[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 27, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E3]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE EQUITABLE CHILD CARE RESOLUTION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. WILLIAM F. GOODLING

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 1998

  Mr. GOODLING. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the Equitable Child Care 
Resolution. The purpose of this concurrent resolution is two fold. 
First, to point out that 70% of families with preschool children do not 
pay for child care. Second, that any quality child care proposal should 
also provide financial relief to families where there is an at-home 
parent.
  Many of the child care proposals that are garnering attention merely 
expand commercial child care and do not also address the needs of the 
vast majority (70%) of families who struggle to provide child care at 
home or in the home of a close relative or neighbor.
  The 70% of families who come up with creative solutions for their 
child care needs should not be ignored. Many of these families 
sacrifice a full-time income. We should also focus on providing them 
with financial relief.
  As we debate the merits and problems of various child care proposals, 
this resolution will serve to remind us that any quality child care 
initiative should provide assistance to parents regardless of how those 
parents choose to care for their children, be it by an at-home parent, 
grandmother, uncle, close neighbor, or child care enter. No child care 
proposal that discriminates against families based on their particular 
choice of child care should be actively considered.
  I hope my colleagues will join me in making sure that at-home parents 
will not be forgotten in the child care debate. And, I urge my 
colleagues to not forget the 70% of American families who provide child 
care in the home, by supporting the Equitable Child Care Resolution.

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