[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E677]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         REGARDING THE PASSING OF MS. SONYA BEMPORAD OF DALLAS

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 15, 1999

  Mr. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Prime Minister 
Winston Churchill once said ``There is no finer investment for any 
community than putting milk into babies.''
  I believe that Ms. Sonya Bemporad of Dallas lived by these words and 
committed her time, energy and soul to investing in children. One of 
the most notable advocates of children and leaders of child care 
policy, Ms. Bemporad died Saturday, March 20, 1999. She was 64 years 
old.
  She is known throughout Texas, and our Nation as the leading and 
chief theoretician with the child care group here in Dallas. The child 
care group is an innovative non-profit organization that operates day-
care centers, manages public subsidies for child care in north Texas, 
conducts training for child-care workers and provides other services. 
She was the group's senior vice president at the time of her death.
  While Congress is still debating on proposals to improve the safety, 
quality and delivery of child care, Ms. Bemporad worked during her 
entire life to find new ways to care for children. She was on the 
cutting-edge with her design of the child-care group's ``relationship-
centered child care'' approach. This approach advocated a small, 
family-like environment and interaction with one ``constant 
caregiver.''
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Bemporad's methods are so widely accepted and 
acknowledged that First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton visited one of the 
day care centers in Dallas that the group operates.
  On February 20, 1998, the First Lady toured the Martin Luther King, 
Jr. Child Development Center with me, witnessing first hand, Ms. 
Bemporad's model. Ms. Bemporad's model on child-care is so effective 
that the First Lady showcased it nationwide as she worked with the 
President to travel throughout the country and across the world to 
visit child-care facilities that work for children and their parents.
  Mr. Speaker, the year before, Ms. Bemporad's success was featured on 
ABC's World News Tonight with Peter Jennings as a solution to the 
Nation's child-care crisis. In addition, the child-care group founded 
the Sonya Bemporad chair for relationship-centered child care. A 
position she had stewardship over until her passing.
  These accolades are testimonials to her commitment to children. She 
deserves that recognition and more, Mr. Speaker. Many children are 
better cared for, receive more attention and are surrounded by 
providers who have an interest in their long-term well-being. Due to 
her efforts, many children in an ``relationship-centered child care 
environment'' usually score higher on reading and language tests in 
public schools than their peers.
  Countless children who will produce and achieve in classrooms 
throughout the city of Dallas, the State of Texas, and our Nation have 
Ms. Bemporad to thank. She could not develop such an approach if she 
did not possess the time and desire to know children and what makes 
them function. This innate sense of Ms. Bemporad's is what helps make 
children successful and cared for. She influenced her peers to 
subscribe to this method, moving away from simply studying and 
analyzing children. She influenced them to accommodate and fashion 
learning environments to children and their most pressing needs.
  However, Mr. Speaker, this is a part of a long career in attending 
and addressing to the needs of children. Over the last 25 years, she 
lent her talents and heart to other child-care organizations. The 
Dallas county child welfare and the Dallas County Mental Health and 
Mental Retardation Agencies all benefited from her sage advice, 
unlimited compassion and concern for children. In addition, she was 
also a member of the American Association of Psychiatric Services for 
Children and the city of Dallas Health and Human Services Commission.
  Mr. Speaker, I join the parents and children of the 30th 
Congressional District in paying tribute to Ms. Sonya Bemporad. Like 
trees, children cannot grow without a seed. Ms. Bemporad was indeed a 
seed that allowed many children to grow and reach new heights.

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