[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E874]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            IN HONOR OF CHILDCARE PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY

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                      HON. RODNEY P. FRELINGHUYSEN

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 5, 1999

  Mr. FRELINGHUYSEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Nation's 
childcare providers as nationwide, childcare centers have joined 
together to declare Friday, May 7, 1999 to be Provider Appreciation 
Day.
  It is estimated that of the 21 million children under the age of six 
in America, 13 million are in childcare, at least part time. An 
additional 24 million school age children are in some form of childcare 
outside of school time.
  By calling attention to the importance of high quality child care 
services for all children and families, the Nation's child care 
providers hope to improve the quality and availability of such 
services.
  This day of recognition has been celebrated annually, since 1996, on 
the Friday before Mother's Day. The idea was spearheaded by a group of 
volunteers from my home state of New Jersey because they saw the need 
for a day of recognition and appreciation for childcare providers. It 
takes a special person to work in this field and their contribution to 
the quality of family life frequently goes unnoticed.
  One such place, where many special people have helped improve the 
lives of children and parents in my district is ``Children on the 
Green'' in Morristown, New Jersey. Children on the Green is a special 
place. It is a center that provides quality, developmentally 
appropriate childcare and early education to families living or working 
in the Morristown community. At the same time, this center offers some 
of its slots to children from area shelters. Children from the Morris 
Shelter, Jersey Battered Women's Services, and the lnterfaith Council 
for Homeless Families of Morris County are in attendance each day. This 
type of child care provides some stability to these children while 
offering their parents time to pursue opportunities that would help 
them to improve their living situations.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
dedicated child care providers at Children on the Green in Morristown, 
and the child care providers all over New Jersey and across our nation 
who each day give a little bit of themselves to help a child learn, 
make friends and feel safe and secure.

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