[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 68 (Wednesday, May 12, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 INTRODUCTION OF THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CHILD CARE CENTER ACT OF 1999

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                          HON. STENY H. HOYER

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 1999

  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, today I have introduced a bill designed to 
ensure the continued ability of the Library of Congress to provide 
quality child care services to those who so ably serve that fine 
institution and other elements of the Legislative Branch, as well as to 
other federal government employees and private sector employees when 
space is available.
  Similar to the general law applying to other federal child care 
facilities, this legislation would amend the Library of Congress Child 
Care Center's authorizing language to specify that the Center must have 
at least 50 percent of its enrollees from families of federal 
employees. The legislation also establishes priorities for enrollment 
in the Center: first priority would go to children (and grandchildren 
and dependents) of Library employees; second priority would go to 
children of other employees of the Legislative Branch; and third 
priority would go to children of employees of other federal agencies. 
Children of non-federal employees would then be admitted as space 
allows, subject to the 50 percent limit.
  The 1991 law creating the Library's Child Care Center is ambiguous on 
the point of permitting the Center to admit children whose parents are 
employed outside of the Legislative Branch. The Library's General 
Counsel and the independent Library of Congress Child Care Association 
Board believe the clear authority provided in the bill I introduce 
today is needed to continue the ability of the Library to provide 
affordable child care to Capitol Hill staff.
  The proportion of Library and other Legislative Branch children 
enrolled in the Library's Child Care Center has steadily increased 
since the Center opened its doors in 1993. With nearly 50 percent of 
the Library's workforce becoming eligible for retirement by the year 
2003, Library employees will have an even greater need for quality, 
convenient child care. Meanwhile, in order to remain self-sustaining, 
the Library's Center needs the same flexibility provided to other 
federal centers to admit a small proportion of children from families 
not employed by the federal government.

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