[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 18, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H1281-H1282]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               CHILD CARE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in 
celebration of Women's History Month and would like to call special 
attention to the current status of child care in our country.
  Today more parents work outside the home than ever before. More than 
75 percent of mothers with children ages 6 through 17 are in the work 
force. More than 60 percent of mothers with children under the age of 6 
are employed in addition. Changes in the welfare system set such strict 
work requirements, which means that parents must find jobs or leave 
public assistance.
  Child care costs can be prohibitive. Consequently it was a reason why 
many mothers did not work. Currently full-day child care can cost 
between $4,000 and $10,000 per year. The expense of child care becomes 
even a greater issue of concern once we consider the fact that nearly 
half of the parents with young children earn $35,000 a year or less. 
Even families with two working parents working full-time at minimum 
wage, the parents earn only about $21,000 annually, and that is gross 
income.
  The importance of quality child care cannot be ignored. Research 
shows that good child care programs can affect children's long-term 
success in school and their learning potential as adults. In addition, 
brain development research shows that an adverse environment in the 
first 3 years of life can compromise a child's brain function and 
overall development. With all of

[[Page H1282]]

this information, it is troubling that according to recent studies, the 
quality of child care is rated mediocre to poor.
  In many cases, parents are able to use relatives. But such care is 
not always available or preferable. Often there are no relatives living 
close by, or nearby relatives are working or are unable to meet the 
demands of a caregiver for a young child.
  In recent times, businesses have made efforts to help their employees 
find and pay for child care, but such help is still scarce. Businesses 
account for only 1 percent of the total child care expenditures.
  In January, President Clinton announced a historic initiative to 
improve child care for America's working families. The initiative 
proposes $21.7 billion over 5 years for child care to help working 
families pay for child care, build a good supply of after-school 
programs, improve safety and quality of care and promote early 
learning. This initiative is an important start to our providing new 
resources and building on existing State efforts to address child care 
trends.
  Now it is up to my colleagues here in Congress to strengthen this 
proposal and enact a child care package that ensures quality, 
affordable child care for every family who needs it. Last month the 
First Lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton, visited a child care center in my 
district. During her tour of the center, Mrs. Clinton was able to learn 
more about the relationship-centered child care model. This nationally 
acclaimed model of care employs the unique concept of small, family 
groups of children who are with the same teacher over time so that they 
grow with better reading, math, language and interpersonal skills.
  I believe that relationship-centered child care has the potential to 
be the benchmark for child care in America. It is my hope that the 
model program will expand to include more of America's children and 
families.

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