[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6299-S6307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. VOINOVICH (for himself, Mr. Graham, Mr. Bayh, and Mr. 
        Cochran):
  S. 1154. A bill to enable States to use Federal funds more 
effectively on behalf of young children, and for other purposes; to the 
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


           prenatal, infant and child development act of 1999

  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce legislation 
with several of my Senate colleagues that will address the physical, 
cognitive and social development of an often-overlooked segment of our 
nation's population--children from prenatal to three years old.
  Our bill, the ``Prenatal, Infant and Child Development Act of 1999,'' 
will give states the necessary tools to help children cultivate the 
basic learning patterns and abilities that they will use throughout 
their lives. We need to do all that we can to create healthy, early 
childhood development systems across the country, and Senator Graham 
and I believe it is within the most important years of a child's life--
prenatal to three--that the most beneficial influence can be provided 
by parents, grandparents and caregivers.
  Every field of endeavor has peak moments of discovery, when past 
knowledge converges with new information, new insights and new 
technologies to produce startling opportunities for advancement. For 
the healthy development of young children--we are faced with one such 
moment. Today, thanks to decades of research on brain chemistry and 
sophisticated new technologies, neuroscientists have the data that 
tells us the experiences that fill a baby's first days, months, and 
years have a decisive impact on the architecture of the brain and on 
the nature and extent of one's adult capabilities. It is the education, 
the love and the nurturing that our children receive during the years 
prenatal to three that will help determine who they become 10, 20 and 
30 years down the road.
  Consequently, a tremendous opportunity exists to assist those 
individuals and families most at risk in the area of prenatal care 
through age three. We must work to create systems that support and 
educate families expecting a baby and those already with young 
children. We must present a message that is perfectly clear--education 
does not and cannot begin in kindergarten, or even in a quality 
preschool.
  Mr. President, in 1997, I served as Chairman of the National 
Governors' Association (NGA). My focus during my tenure as Chairman, 
was the National Education Goal One, that by the year 2000, all 
children in America will start school ready to learn.
  We developed goals, model indicators, and measures of performance of 
child and family well-being in order to impact school readiness. The 
results-oriented goals focused states on the improved conditions of 
young children and their families. We encouraged state and local 
governments to look across a variety of delivery systems--health care, 
child care, family support, and education--to make sure these systems 
would work together effectively for young children and their families. 
Based on that effort, between 1997 and 1998, 42 governors made early 
childhood development a keynote issue as they outlined their state 
agendas.
  Improving education is really about the process of ``lifelong 
learning,'' which includes efforts based on what doctors and 
researchers have said about the importance of positive early childhood 
learning experiences. The traditional primary and secondary education 
community needs to recognize that investments in early childhood aid 
their ultimate goal--that is, a classroom that can continue to move the 
learning process forward. To achieve that goal, a significant tenet of 
our education agenda must be to ensure that our children enter school 
ready to learn. Thus, we must support parents and caregivers, to help 
them understand that day-to-day interaction with young children helps 
children develop cognitively, socially and emotionally.
  To ensure that children have the best possible start in life, 
supports must exist to help parents and other adults who care for young 
children. Supports that are critical for young children from prenatal 
through age three include health care, nutrition programs, childcare, 
early development services adoption assistance, education programs, and 
other support services.
  There are three ways we can enhance these supports and create new 
ones. The first is to build on existing programs well underway in the 
states and the local communities by protecting and increasing federal 
commitments to worthwhile programs such as WIC (Women, Infants, and 
Children), CCDBG (Child Care and Development Block Grant), and S-CHIP 
(State-Children's Health Insurance Program).
  The second is to improve coordination among federal agencies in the 
administration of early childhood programs. As Chairman of the Senate 
Government Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, 
Restructuring, and the District of Columbia. I am taking steps to 
ensure, for example, that the Department of Education and the 
Department of Health and Human Services communicate with each other 
about the early childhood programs for which they are responsible in 
order to determine which are duplicative and which are most successful.
  The Results Act contemplates that agencies should be using their 
Performance Plans to demonstrate how daily activities, including 
coordination, contribute to the achievement of strategic goals. GAO 
evaluated the

[[Page S6300]]

Departments of Education and Health and Human Services 5-year Strategic 
Plans, and FY 1999 and FY 2000 Annual Performance Plans with regard to 
their coordination efforts. GAO found that both departments' plans are 
not living up to their full potential. While they address the issue of 
coordination, the plans provide little detail about their intentions to 
implement such coordination efforts. I met with both departments and 
asked that they submit an amended Performance Plan that provided a more 
detailed compilation of coordination activities and examples. We should 
emerge from this exercise with a consensus on the most promising 
programs for our children.
  The third way to improve support services is to encourage states to 
make prenatal to three development a priority. Our bill gives state and 
local governments additional resources to provide these necessary 
support services. At the same time, it recognizes that tight spending 
restraints limit available resources. Consequently, it is a modest, 
incremental bill that encourages collaboration and integration among 
existing programs and services and provides additional flexibility to 
states and local governments if they implement programs to provide 
coordinated services dedicated to meeting the needs of young children.

  Most child advocacy groups rank collaboration on the local level as 
fundamental and essential to successful programs for healthy childhood 
development. Under the bill, funds will be provided through the CCDBG 
program and will reward states that initiate such collaboration in 
creating state and local councils. It will also encourage states with 
existing collaboratives to help them expand their focus to social, 
emotional and cognitive development so that children have the best 
possible start in life. Funds could be used for a variety of 
coordinated services, such as child care, child development, pediatric 
literacy, parent education, home visits, or health services. States 
will lay out plans that identify ways to further promote the importance 
of early childhood care and education. Plans should also identify 
existing supports available for these children and ways that state and 
local councils can work with already established early development 
programs.
  In addition, the bill focuses on three particular areas to increase 
public awareness and enhance training opportunities for parents and 
other adults caring for young children.
  The first would provide funding to expand a satellite television 
network nationally. In order to help parents and caregivers do a better 
job of creating an environment where kids can learn, the legislation 
provides funds to support satellite television network services 
directly connected to child care centers, preschools, colleges, Early 
Head Start sites and the Internet. These services include high quality 
training, news, jobs and medical information dedicated to the specific 
needs of the Head Start staff and others in the early childhood 
community. In my state of Ohio, we already have networks in place at 
1,500 sites.
  The bill provides for a partnership between at least one non-profit 
organization and other public or private entities specializing in 
broadcast programs for parents and professionals in the early childhood 
field. The goal is to blend the latest in satellite technology with 
sound ``prenatal to three'' information and training principles, 
potentially reaching more than 140,000 caregivers and parents each 
month.
  The second would provide financial incentives for child-care workers 
to pursue credentialing or accreditation in early childhood education. 
Although many states do not have formal credentialing standards, there 
are several national organizations with accreditation curricula. The 
legislation encourages caregivers to pursue skills-based training 
(including via satellite or on the Internet) that leads to 
credentialing or accreditation by the state or national organization. 
Whatever qualified incentive program is initiated, employers would be 
required to match each dollar of the Federal contribution.
  The third would reauthorize and expand the multimedia parenting 
resources through video, print and interactive resources in the PBS 
``Ready to Learn'' initiative. These resources include:
  Expanded Internet offerings that enable parents to reinforce PBS' 
``Ready to Learn'' curriculum at home. ``Ready to Learn'' material 
would be directly accessible from the web for parents to utilize in 
reinforcing their child's appreciation of public television programs 
prior to and after program viewing.
  Expanded national programming, such as Mr. Rogers and Sesame Street.
  Formalized and expanded ``Ready to Learn Teachers'' training and 
certificate programs using ``The Whole Child'' video courseware, 
collateral print materials and the development of new video and print 
courseware.
  Expanded caregiver/parent training which would include workshops, 
distribution of material, and broadcasting of educational video 
vignettes regarding developmentally appropriate activities for young 
children.
  Deployment of a 24-hour channel of Ready to Learn-based children's 
programming and parenting training through digital technology.
  Our bill would also allow the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families 
(TANF) program to serve young children in a more effective manner by 
allowing states the ability to transfer up to 10 percent of a state's 
TANF grant to the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG). Originally, the 
1996 welfare reform bill allowed states this flexibility. However, this 
was restricted in 1998 to allow states to transfer just 4.25 percent of 
their TANF grant as an offset to help pay for new highway investments 
in TEA-21. Social Services Block Grants (Title XX of the Social 
Security Act) are a flexible source of funds that states may use to 
support a wide variety of social services for children and families, 
including child day care, protective services for children, foster 
care, and home-based services.
  The bill would also allow an additional 15 percent transfer of TANF 
money to the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) for 
expenditures under a state early childhood collaboration program. 
Currently, states are permitted to transfer up to 30 percent of TANF to 
a combination of the CCDBG and SSBG. The Welfare Reform Act 
restructured federal childcare programs, repealed three welfare-related 
childcare programs and amended the Child Care Development Block Grant 
(CCDBG). Under current law, states receive a combination of mandatory 
and discretionary grants, part of which is subject to a state match. 
These funds would allow states to create or expand local early 
childhood development coordination councils (10 percent of the transfer 
authority), or to enhance child care quality in existing programs (5 
percent of the transfer authority).
  Using these new resources, states can implement coordinated programs 
at the local level, such as ``one-stop shopping'' for parents with 
young children. Under this particular program, parents could have a 
well-baby care visit, meet with a counselor to discuss questions and 
concerns about the baby's development or receive referrals for help in 
enrollment in child-care.
  Further, the legislation would alter the high performance bonus find 
within TANF to include criteria related to child welfare. The current 
criteria are based upon the recommendations of the National Governors' 
Association (NGA) high performance bonus fund work group. The bonus 
fund currently provides $200 million annually to states for meeting 
certain work-related performance targets, such as improvement of long-
term self-sufficiency rates by current and former TANF recipients. The 
performance targets should be expanded to include family- and child-
related criteria, such as increases in immunization rates, literacy and 
preschool participation.

  Finally, our bill encourages States to use their Maternal and Child 
Health Services Block Grant to target activities that address the needs 
of children from prenatal to three. The Maternal and Child Health 
Services Block Grant funds a broad range of health services to mothers 
and children, particularly those with low income or limited access to 
health services. Its goals are to reduce infant mortality, prevent 
disease and handicapping conditions among children and increase the 
availability of prenatal, delivery and postpartum care to mothers.
  States are required to use 30 percent of their block grant for 
preventive and primary care services for children, 30 percent for 
services to children with special health care needs, and 40 percent at 
the states' discretion for either of these groups or for other 
appropriate maternal and child health activities.

[[Page S6301]]

Using this existing funding, this legislation encourages states to 
design programs to address the social and emotional development needs 
of children under the age of five. It encourages states to provide 
coordinated early development services, parent education, and 
strategies to meet the needs of state and local populations. It does 
not mandate any specific model, nor does it require that states set-
aside a specific amount of money from this block grant. Rather, it is 
intended to give states flexibility in finding money to devote more 
resources to existing or new healthy early childhood development 
systems.
  Mr. President, the pace at which children grow and learn during the 
first three years of life makes that period the most critical in their 
overall development. Children who lack proper nutrition, health care 
and nurturing during their early years tend to also lack adequate 
social, motor and language skills needed to perform well in school.
  I believe that all children, parents, and caregivers should have 
access to coordinated information and support services appropriate for 
healthy early childhood development in the first three years of life. 
The changing structure of the family requires that states streamline 
and coordinate healthy early childhood development systems of care to 
meet the needs of parents and children in the 21st century.
  The Federal Government's role in the development of these systems of 
care is minimal; it must give states the flexibility to implement 
programs that respond to local needs and conditions. Although it's just 
a modest step, that's exactly what our bill does.
  Our children are our most precious natural resource. They are our 
hope and they are our future. Therefore, I encourage my colleagues to 
co-sponsor our legislation, and I urge the Senate during the 106th 
Congress to make prenatal to three a priority for the sake of our 
children.
  Thank you, Mr. President, and I ask unanimous consent that the text 
of the bill be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 1154

         Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
     of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Prenatal, 
     Infant, and Child Development Act of 1999''.
       (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act 
     is as follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Findings.

    TITLE I--FUNDS PROVIDED UNDER THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY 
                            FAMILIES PROGRAM

Sec. 101. Authority to transfer funds for other purposes.
Sec. 102. Bonus to reward high performance States.

  TITLE II--EXPANSION OF THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK 
                                 GRANT

Sec. 201. Authority to provide State programs for the development of 
              children under age 5.

                     TITLE III--SATELLITE TRAINING

Sec. 301. Short title.
Sec. 302. Revision of part C of title III of the Elementary and 
              Secondary Education Act of 1965.
Sec. 303. Satellite television network.

     TITLE IV--HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS OF CARE

Sec. 401. Block grants to States for healthy early childhood 
              development systems of care.

                TITLE V--CREDENTIALING AND ACCREDITATION

Sec. 501. Definitions.
Sec. 502. Authorization of appropriation.
Sec. 503. State allotments.
Sec. 504. Application.
Sec. 505. State child care credentialing and accreditation incentive 
              program.
Sec. 506. Administration.
Sec. 507. Credentialing, accreditation, and retention of qualified 
              child care workers.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       Congress makes the following findings:
       (1) Babies are born with all of the 100,000,000,000 brain 
     cells, or neurons, that the babies will need as adults.
       (2) By age 3, children have nearly all of the necessary 
     connections, or synapses, between brain cells that cause the 
     brain to function properly.
       (3) The pace at which children grow and learn during the 
     first years of life makes that period the most critical in 
     their overall development.
       (4) Children who lack proper nutrition, health care, and 
     nurturing during their first years tend to also lack adequate 
     social, motor, and language skills needed to perform well in 
     school.
       (5) All young children, and parents and caregivers of these 
     children, should have access to information and support 
     services appropriate for promoting healthy early childhood 
     development in the first years of life, including health 
     care, early intervention services, child care, parenting 
     education, and other child development services.
       (6) The changing structure of the family requires that 
     States streamline and coordinate healthy early childhood 
     development systems of care to meet the needs of parents and 
     children in the 21st century.
       (7) The Federal Government's role in the development of 
     these systems of care should be minimal. The Federal 
     Government must give States the flexibility to implement 
     systems involving programs that respond to local needs and 
     conditions.
    TITLE I--FUNDS PROVIDED UNDER THE TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE TO NEEDY 
                            FAMILIES PROGRAM

     SEC. 101. AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER FUNDS FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

       (a) Transfer of Funds for Block Grants for Social 
     Services.--
       (1) Elimination of reduction in amount transferable for 
     fiscal year 2001 and thereafter.--Section 404(d)(2) of the 
     Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 604(d)(2)) is amended to read 
     as follows:
       ``(2) Limitation on amount transferable to title xx 
     programs.--A State may use not more than 10 percent of the 
     amount of any grant made to the State under section 403(a) 
     for a fiscal year to carry out State programs pursuant to 
     title XX.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1) 
     takes effect on October 1, 1999.
       (b) Transfer of Funds for Early Childhood Collaborative 
     Efforts Under the CCDBG.--
       (1) In general.--Section 404(d) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 604(d)) is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and 
     inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)'';
       (B) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (2), the following:
       ``(3) Additional amounts transferable to early childhood 
     collaborative councils.--The percentage described in 
     paragraph (1) may be increased by up to 10 percentage points 
     if the additional funds resulting from that increase are 
     provided to local early childhood development coordinating 
     councils described in section 659H of the Child Care and 
     Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to carry out activities 
     described in section 659J of that Act.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     take effect on October 1, 1999.
       (c) Transfer of Funds To Enhance Child Care Quality Under 
     the CCDBG.--
       (1) In general.--Section 404(d) of the Social Security Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 604(d)), as amended by subsection (b), is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``and (3)'' and inserting 
     ``(3), and (4)'';
       (B) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
       (C) by inserting after paragraph (3), the following:
       ``(4) Additional amounts transferable for the enhancement 
     of child care quality.--The percentage described in paragraph 
     (1) (determined without regard to any increase in that 
     percentage as a result of the application of paragraph (3)) 
     may be increased by up to 5 percentage points if the 
     additional funds resulting from that increase are used to 
     enhance child care quality under a State program pursuant to 
     the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990.''.
       (2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1) 
     take effect on October 1, 1999.

     SEC. 102. BONUS TO REWARD HIGH PERFORMANCE STATES.

       (a) Additional Measures of State Performance.--Section 
     403(a)(4)(C) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     603(a)(4)(C)) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``Not later'' and inserting the following:
       ``(i) In general.--Not later'';
       (2) by inserting ``The formula shall provide for the 
     awarding of grants under this paragraph based on core 
     national and State-selected measures in accordance with 
     clauses (ii) and (iii).'' after the period; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(ii) Core national measures.--The majority of grants 
     awarded under this paragraph shall be based on employment-
     related national measures using data that are consistently 
     available in all States.
       ``(iii) State-selected measures.--Not less than $20,000,000 
     of the amount appropriated for a fiscal year under 
     subparagraph (F) shall be used to award grants to States 
     under this paragraph for that fiscal year based on optional, 
     State-selected measures that are related to the status of 
     families and children. States may choose to compete from 
     among such measures according to the policy priorities of the 
     State and the ability of the State to provide data. Such 
     State-selected measures may include--

[[Page S6302]]

       ``(I) successful diversion of applicants from a need for 
     cash assistance under the State program under this title;
       ``(II) school attendance records of children in families 
     receiving assistance under the State program under this 
     title;
       ``(III) the degree of participation in the State in the 
     head start program established under the Head Start Act (42 
     U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) or public preschool programs;
       ``(IV) improvement of child and adult literacy rates;
       ``(V) improvement of long-term self-sufficiency rates by 
     current and former recipients of assistance under the State 
     program funded under this title;
       ``(VI) child support collection rates under the child 
     support and paternity establishment program established under 
     part D;
       ``(VII) increases in household income of current and former 
     recipients of assistance under the State program funded under 
     this title; and
       ``(VIII) improvement of child immunization rates.''.

       (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
     apply to each of fiscal years 2000 through 2003.
  TITLE II--EXPANSION OF THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH SERVICES BLOCK 
                                 GRANT

     SEC. 201. AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE STATE PROGRAMS FOR THE 
                   DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5.

       (a) In General.--Section 501(a)(1) of the Social Security 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 701(a)(1)) is amended--
       (1) by redesignating subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D) as 
     subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E), respectively; and
       (2) by inserting after subparagraph (A), the following:
       ``(B) to design programs to address the physical, 
     cognitive, and social developmental needs of infants and 
     children under age 5 by providing early child development 
     services, parent education, and other tailored strategies to 
     meet the needs of State and local populations;''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Paragraphs (1)(C) and (3)(B) of 
     section 505(a) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 705(a)) 
     are each amended by striking ``501(a)(1)(D)'' and inserting 
     ``501(a)(1)(E)''.
       (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     take effect on October 1, 1999.
                     TITLE III--SATELLITE TRAINING

     SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.

       This title may be cited as the ``Digital Education Act of 
     1999''.

     SEC. 302. REVISION OF PART C OF TITLE III OF THE ELEMENTARY 
                   AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965.

       Part C of title III of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6921 et seq.) is amended to 
     read as follows:

              ``PART C--READY-TO-LEARN DIGITAL TELEVISION

     ``SEC. 3301. FINDINGS.

       ``Congress makes the following findings:
       ``(1) In 1994, Congress and the Department collaborated to 
     make a long-term, meaningful and public investment in the 
     principle that high-quality preschool television programming 
     will help children be ready to learn by the time the children 
     entered first grade.
       ``(2) The Ready to Learn Television Program through the 
     Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and local public television 
     stations has proven to be an extremely cost-effective 
     national response to improving early childhood development 
     and helping parents, caregivers, and professional child care 
     providers learn how to use television as a means to help 
     children learn, develop, and play creatively.
       ``(3) Independent research shows that parents who 
     participate in Ready to Learn workshops are more critical 
     consumers of television and their children are more active 
     viewers. A University of Alabama study showed that parents 
     who had attended a Ready to Learn workshop read more books 
     and stories to their children and read more minutes each time 
     than nonattendees. The parents did more hands-on activities 
     related to reading with their children. The parents engaged 
     in more word activities and for more minutes each time. The 
     parents read less for entertainment and more for education. 
     The parents took their children to libraries and bookstores 
     more than nonattendees. For parents, participating in a Ready 
     to Learn workshop increases their awareness of and interest 
     in educational dimensions of television programming and is 
     instrumental in having their children gain exposure to more 
     educational programming. Moreover, 6 months after 
     participating in Ready to Learn workshops, parents who 
     attended generally had set rules for television viewing by 
     their children. These rules related to the amount of time the 
     children were allowed to watch television daily, the hours 
     the children were allowed to watch television, and the tasks 
     or chores the children must have accomplished before the 
     children were allowed to watch television.
       ``(4) The Ready to Learn (RTL) Television Program is 
     supporting and creating commercial-free broadcast programs 
     for young children that are of the highest possible 
     educational quality. Program funding has also been used to 
     create hundreds of valuable interstitial program elements 
     that appear between national and local public television 
     programs to provide developmentally appropriate messages to 
     children and caregiving advice to parents.
       ``(5) Through the Nation's 350 local public television 
     stations, these programs and programming elements reach tens 
     of millions of children, their parents, and caregivers 
     without regard to their economic circumstances, location, or 
     access to cable. In this way, public television is a partner 
     with Federal policy to make television an instrument, not an 
     enemy, of preschool children's education and early 
     development.
       ``(6) The Ready to Learn Television Program extends beyond 
     the television screen. Funds from the Ready to Learn 
     Television Program have funded thousands of local workshops 
     organized and run by local public television stations, almost 
     always in association with local child care training agencies 
     or early childhood development professionals, to help child 
     care professionals and parents learn more about how to use 
     television effectively as a developmental tool. These 
     workshops have trained more than 320,000 parents and 
     professionals who, in turn, serve and support over 4,000,000 
     children across the Nation.
       ``(7)(A) The Ready to Learn Television Program has 
     published and distributed millions of copies of a quarterly 
     magazine entitled `PBS Families' that contains--
       ``(i) developmentally appropriate games and activities 
     based on Ready to Learn Television programming;
       ``(ii) parenting advice;
       ``(iii) news about regional and national activities related 
     to early childhood development; and
       ``(iv) information about upcoming Ready to Learn Television 
     activities and programs.
       ``(B) The magazine described in subparagraph (A) is 
     published 4 times a year and distributed free of charge by 
     local public television stations in English and in Spanish 
     (PBS para la familia).
       ``(8) Because reading and literacy are central to the ready 
     to learn principle Ready to Learn Television stations also 
     have received and distributed millions of free age-
     appropriate books in their communities as part of the Ready 
     to Learn Television Program. Each station receives a minimum 
     of 200 books each month for free local distribution. Some 
     stations are now distributing more than 1,000 books per 
     month. Nationwide, more than 300,000 books are distributed 
     each year in low-income and disadvantaged neighborhoods free 
     of charge.
       ``(9) In 1998, the Public Broadcasting Service, in 
     association with local colleges and local public television 
     stations, as well as the Annenberg Corporation for Public 
     Broadcasting Project housed at the Corporation for Public 
     Broadcasting, began a pilot program to test the formal 
     awarding of a Certificate in Early Childhood Development 
     through distance learning. The pilot is based on the local 
     distribution of a 13-part video courseware series developed 
     by Annenberg Corporation for Public Broadcasting and WTVS 
     Detroit entitled `The Whole Child'. Louisiana Public 
     Broadcasting, Kentucky Educational Television, Maine Public 
     Broadcasting, and WLJT Martin, Tennessee, working with local 
     and State regulatory agencies in the child care field, have 
     participated in the pilot program with a high level of 
     success. The certificate program is ready for nationwide 
     application using the Public Broadcasting Service's Adult 
     Learning Service.
       ``(10) Demand for Ready To Learn Television Program 
     outreach and training has increased dramatically, with the 
     base of participating Public Broadcasting Service member 
     stations growing from a pilot of 10 stations to nearly 130 
     stations in 5 years.
       ``(11) Federal policy played a crucial role in the 
     evolution of analog television by funding the television 
     program entitled `Sesame Street' in the 1960's. Federal 
     policy should continue to play an equally crucial role for 
     children in the digital television age.

     ``SEC. 3302. READY-TO-LEARN.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
     grants to or enter into contracts or cooperative agreements 
     with eligible entities described in section 3303(b) to 
     develop, produce, and distribute educational and 
     instructional video programming for preschool and elementary 
     school children and their parents in order to facilitate the 
     achievement of the National Education Goals.
       ``(b) Availability.--In making such grants, contracts, or 
     cooperative agreements, the Secretary shall ensure that 
     eligible entities make programming widely available, with 
     support materials as appropriate, to young children, their 
     parents, child care workers, and Head Start providers to 
     increase the effective use of such programming.

     ``SEC. 3303. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING.

       ``(a) Awards.--The Secretary shall award grants, contracts, 
     or cooperative agreements under section 3302 to eligible 
     entities to--
       ``(1) facilitate the development directly, or through 
     contracts with producers of children and family educational 
     television programming, of--
       ``(A) educational programming for preschool and elementary 
     school children; and
       ``(B) accompanying support materials and services that 
     promote the effective use of such programming;
       ``(2) facilitate the development of programming and digital 
     content especially designed for nationwide distribution over 
     public television stations' digital broadcasting channels and 
     the Internet, containing Ready to Learn-based children's 
     programming and resources for parents and caregivers; and

[[Page S6303]]

       ``(3) enable eligible entities to contract with entities 
     (such as public telecommunications entities and those funded 
     under the Star Schools Act) so that programs developed under 
     this section are disseminated and distributed--
       ``(A) to the widest possible audience appropriate to be 
     served by the programming; and
       ``(B) by the most appropriate distribution technologies.
       ``(b) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive a 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement under subsection 
     (a), an entity shall be--
       ``(1) a public telecommunications entity that is able to 
     demonstrate a capacity for the development and national 
     distribution of educational and instructional television 
     programming of high quality for preschool and elementary 
     school children and their parents and caregivers; and
       ``(2) able to demonstrate a capacity to contract with the 
     producers of children's television programming for the 
     purpose of developing educational television programming of 
     high quality for preschool and elementary school children and 
     their parents and caregivers.
       ``(c) Cultural Experiences.--Programming developed under 
     this section shall reflect the recognition of diverse 
     cultural experiences and the needs and experiences of both 
     boys and girls in engaging and preparing young children for 
     schooling.

     ``SEC. 3304. DUTIES OF SECRETARY.

       ``The Secretary is authorized--
       ``(1) to award grants, contracts, or cooperative agreements 
     to eligible entities described in section 3303(b), local 
     public television stations, or such public television 
     stations that are part of a consortium with 1 or more State 
     educational agencies, local educational agencies, local 
     schools, institutions of higher education, or community-based 
     organizations of demonstrated effectiveness, for the purpose 
     of--
       ``(A) addressing the learning needs of young children in 
     limited English proficient households, and developing 
     appropriate educational and instructional television 
     programming to foster the school readiness of such children;
       ``(B) developing programming and support materials to 
     increase family literacy skills among parents to assist 
     parents in teaching their children and utilizing educational 
     television programming to promote school readiness; and
       ``(C) identifying, supporting, and enhancing the effective 
     use and outreach of innovative programs that promote school 
     readiness; and
       ``(D) developing and disseminating training materials, 
     including--
       ``(i) interactive programs and programs adaptable to 
     distance learning technologies that are designed to enhance 
     knowledge of children's social and cognitive skill 
     development and positive adult-child interactions; and
       ``(ii) support materials to promote the effective use of 
     materials developed under subparagraph (B) among parents, 
     Head Start providers, in-home and center-based day care 
     providers, early childhood development personnel, elementary 
     school teachers, public libraries, and after- school program 
     personnel caring for preschool and elementary school 
     children;
       ``(2) to establish within the Department a clearinghouse to 
     compile and provide information, referrals, and model program 
     materials and programming obtained or developed under this 
     part to parents, child care providers, and other appropriate 
     individuals or entities to assist such individuals and 
     entities in accessing programs and projects under this part; 
     and
       ``(3) to coordinate activities assisted under this part 
     with the Secretary of Health and Human Services in order to--
       ``(A) maximize the utilization of quality educational 
     programming by preschool and elementary school children, and 
     make such programming widely available to federally funded 
     programs serving such populations; and
       ``(B) provide information to recipients of funds under 
     Federal programs that have major training components for 
     early childhood development, including programs under the 
     Head Start Act and Even Start, and State training activities 
     funded under the Child Care Development Block Grant Act of 
     1990, regarding the availability and utilization of materials 
     developed under paragraph (1)(D) to enhance parent and child 
     care provider skills in early childhood development and 
     education.

     ``SEC. 3305. APPLICATIONS.

       ``Each entity desiring a grant, contract, or cooperative 
     agreement under section 3302 or 3304 shall submit an 
     application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
     and accompanied by such information as the Secretary may 
     reasonably require.

     ``SEC. 3306. REPORTS AND EVALUATION.

       ``(a) Annual Report to Secretary.--An eligible entity 
     receiving funds under section 3302 shall prepare and submit 
     to the Secretary an annual report which contains such 
     information as the Secretary may require. At a minimum, the 
     report shall describe the program activities undertaken with 
     funds received under section 3302, including--
       ``(1) the programming that has been developed directly or 
     indirectly by the eligible entity, and the target population 
     of the programs developed;
       ``(2) the support materials that have been developed to 
     accompany the programming, and the method by which such 
     materials are distributed to consumers and users of the 
     programming;
       ``(3) the means by which programming developed under this 
     section has been distributed, including the distance learning 
     technologies that have been utilized to make programming 
     available and the geographic distribution achieved through 
     such technologies; and
       ``(4) the initiatives undertaken by the eligible entity to 
     develop public-private partnerships to secure non-Federal 
     support for the development, distribution and broadcast of 
     educational and instructional programming.
       ``(b) Report to Congress.--The Secretary shall prepare and 
     submit to the relevant committees of Congress a biannual 
     report which includes--
       ``(1) a summary of activities assisted under section 
     3303(a); and
       ``(2) a description of the training materials made 
     available under section 3304(1)(D), the manner in which 
     outreach has been conducted to inform parents and child care 
     providers of the availability of such materials, and the 
     manner in which such materials have been distributed in 
     accordance with such section.

     ``SEC. 3307. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.

       ``With respect to the implementation of section 3303, 
     eligible entities receiving a grant, contract, or cooperative 
     agreement from the Secretary may use not more than 5 percent 
     of the amounts received under such section for the normal and 
     customary expenses of administering the grant, contract, or 
     cooperative agreement.

     ``SEC. 3308. DEFINITION.

       ``For the purposes of this part, the term `distance 
     learning' means the transmission of educational or 
     instructional programming to geographically dispersed 
     individuals and groups via telecommunications (including 
     through the Internet).

     ``SEC. 3309. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this part, $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2000, and 
     such sums as may be necessary for each of the 4 succeeding 
     fiscal years.
       ``(b) Funding Rule.--Not less than 60 percent of the 
     amounts appropriated under subsection (a) for each fiscal 
     year shall be used to carry out section 3303.''.

     SEC. 303. SATELLITE TELEVISION NETWORK.

       Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
     the following:

                 ``PART G--SATELLITE TELEVISION NETWORK

     ``SEC. 3701. NETWORK.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Education and the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services shall award a grant to 
     or enter into a contract with an eligible organization to 
     establish and operate a satellite television network to 
     provide training for personnel of Head Start programs carried 
     out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) and 
     other child care providers, who serve children under age 5.
       ``(b) Eligible Organization.--To be eligible to receive a 
     grant or enter into a contract under subsection (a), an 
     organization shall--
       ``(1) administer a centralized child development and 
     national assessment program leading to recognized credentials 
     for personnel working in early childhood development and 
     child care programs, within the meaning of section 648(e) of 
     the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843(e)); and
       ``(2) demonstrate that the organization has entered into a 
     partnership, to establish and operate the training network, 
     that includes--
       ``(A) a nonprofit organization; and
       ``(B) a public or private entity that specializes in 
     providing broadcast programs for parents and professionals in 
     fields relating to early childhood.
       ``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant or 
     contract under subsection (a), an organization shall submit 
     an application to the Secretary of Education and the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services at such time, in such 
     manner, and containing such information as the Secretaries 
     may require.
       ``(d) Cooperative Agreement.--The Secretary of Education 
     and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall enter 
     into a cooperative agreement to carry out this section.
       ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this part $20,000,000 for 
     fiscal year 2000 and such sums as may be necessary for each 
     subsequent fiscal year.''.
     TITLE IV--HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS OF CARE

     SEC. 401. BLOCK GRANTS TO STATES FOR HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD 
                   DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS OF CARE.

       (a) Block Grant.--The Child Care and Development Block 
     Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) is amended--
       (1) by inserting after the subchapter heading the 
     following:

                    ``PART 1--CHILD CARE ACTIVITIES;

     and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:

     ``PART 2--HEALTHY EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT SYSTEMS OF CARE

     ``SEC. 659. PURPOSE.

       ``The purposes of this part are--

[[Page S6304]]

       ``(1) to help families seeking government assistance for 
     their children, in a manner that does not usurp the role of 
     parents, but streamlines and coordinates government services 
     for the families;
       ``(2) to establish a framework of support for local early 
     childhood development coordinating councils that--
       ``(A) develop comprehensive, long-range strategic plans for 
     early childhood education, development, and support services; 
     and
       ``(B) provide, through public and private means, high-
     quality early childhood education, development, and support 
     services for children and families; and
       ``(3)(A) to support family environments conducive to the 
     growth and healthy development of children; and
       ``(B) to ensure that children under age 5 have proper 
     medical care and early intervention services when necessary.

     ``SEC. 659A. DEFINITIONS.

       ``In this part:
       ``(1) Child in poverty.--The term `child in poverty' means 
     a young child who is an eligible child described in section 
     658P(4)(B).
       ``(2) Healthy early childhood development system of care.--
     The term `healthy early childhood development system of care' 
     means a system of programs that provides coordinated early 
     childhood development services.
       ``(3) Early childhood development services.--The term 
     `early childhood development services' means education, 
     development, and support services, such as all-day 
     kindergarten, parenting education and home visits, child care 
     and other child development services, and health services 
     (including prenatal care), for young children.
       ``(4) Eligible state.--The term `eligible State' means a 
     State that has submitted a State plan described in section 
     659E to the Secretary and obtained the certification of the 
     Secretary for the plan.
       ``(5) Governor.--The term `Governor' means the chief 
     executive officer of a State.
       ``(6) Indian tribe; tribal organization.--The terms `Indian 
     tribe' and `tribal organization' have the meanings given the 
     terms in section 658P.
       ``(7) Local council.--The term `local council' means a 
     local early childhood development coordinating council 
     established or designated under section 659H.
       ``(8) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services.
       ``(9) State.--The term `State' means any of the several 
     States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
     Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, 
     and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
       ``(10) State council.--The term `State council' means a 
     State early childhood development coordinating council 
     established or designated under section 659D.
       ``(11) Young child.--The term `young child' mean an 
     individual under age 5.

     ``SEC. 659B. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--There is authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this part $200,000,000 for each of fiscal years 
     2000 through 2004.
       ``(b) Availability of Funds.--Funds appropriated for a 
     fiscal year under subsection (a) shall remain available for 
     the succeeding 2 fiscal years.

     ``SEC. 659C. ALLOTMENT TO STATES.

       ``(a) Reservation.--The Secretary shall reserve not less 
     than 1 percent, and not more than 2 percent, of the funds 
     appropriated under section 659B for each fiscal year for 
     payments to Indian tribes and tribal organizations to assist 
     the tribes and organizations in supporting healthy early 
     childhood development systems of care under this part. The 
     Secretary shall by regulation issue requirements concerning 
     the eligibility of Indian tribes and tribal organizations to 
     receive funds under this subsection, and the use of funds 
     made available under this subsection.
       ``(b) Allotment.--From the funds appropriated under section 
     659B for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall allot to each 
     eligible State, to pay for the Federal share of the cost of 
     supporting healthy early childhood development systems of 
     care under this part, the sum of--
       ``(1) an amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of 
     such funds as the number of young children in the State bears 
     to the number of such children in all eligible States; and
       ``(2) an amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of 
     such funds as the number of children in poverty in the State 
     bears to the number of such children in all eligible States.
       ``(c) Federal Share.--The Federal share of the cost 
     described in subsection (b) shall be 75 percent. The non-
     Federal share of the cost may be provided in cash or in kind, 
     fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment or services 
     (provided from State or local public sources or through 
     donations from private entities).

     ``SEC. 659D. STATE COUNCIL.

       ``(a) In General.--The Governor of a State seeking an 
     allotment under section 659C may, at the election of the 
     Governor--
       ``(1) establish and appoint the members of a State early 
     childhood development coordinating council, as described in 
     subsection (b); or
       ``(2) designate an entity to serve as such a council, as 
     described in subsection (c).
       ``(b) Appointed State Council.--The Governor may establish 
     and appoint the members of a State council that--
       ``(1) may include--
       ``(A) the State superintendent of schools, or the designee 
     of the superintendent;
       ``(B) the chief State budget officer or the designee of the 
     officer;
       ``(C) the head of the State health department or the 
     designee of the head;
       ``(D) the heads of the State agencies with primary 
     responsibility for child welfare, child care, and the 
     medicaid program carried out under title XIX of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396 et seq.), or the designees of 
     the heads;
       ``(E) the heads of other State agencies with primary 
     responsibility for services for young children or pregnant 
     women, which may be agencies with primary responsibility for 
     alcohol and drug addiction services, mental health services, 
     mental retardation services, food assistance services, and 
     juvenile justice services, or the designees of the heads;
       ``(F) a representative of parents or consumers;
       ``(G) representatives of early childhood development 
     agencies; and
       ``(H) the Governor; and
       ``(2) may, in the discretion of the Governor, include other 
     members, including representatives of providers.
       ``(c) Designated State Council.--The Governor may designate 
     an entity to serve as the State council if the entity--
       ``(1) includes members that are substantially similar to 
     the members described in subsection (b); and
       ``(2) provides integrated and coordinated early childhood 
     development services.
       ``(d) Chairperson.--The Governor shall serve as the 
     chairperson of the State council.
       ``(e) Duties.--In a State with a State council, the State 
     council--
       ``(1) shall submit the State plan described in section 
     659E;
       ``(2) shall make the allocation described in section 
     659F(b);
       ``(3) may carry out activities described in section 
     659F(c); and
       ``(4) shall prepare and submit the report described in 
     section 659F(e).

     ``SEC. 659E. STATE PLAN.

       ``(a) In General.--To be eligible to receive an allotment 
     under section 659C, a State shall submit a State plan to the 
     Secretary at such time, and in such manner, as the Secretary 
     may require, including--
       ``(1) in the case of a State in which the Governor elects 
     to establish or designate a State council, sufficient 
     information about the entity established or designated under 
     section 659D to enable the Secretary to determine whether the 
     entity complies with the requirements of such section;
       ``(2) a description of the political subdivisions 
     designated by the State to receive funds under section 659G 
     and carry out activities under section 659J;
       ``(3)(A) comprehensive information describing how the State 
     will carry out activities described in section 659F and how 
     political subdivisions in the State will carry out activities 
     described in section 659J; and
       ``(B) State goals for the activities described in 
     subparagraph (A);
       ``(4) such information as the Secretary shall by regulation 
     require on the amount and source of State and local public 
     funds, and donations, expended in the State to provide the 
     non-Federal share of the cost of supporting healthy early 
     childhood development systems of care under this part; and
       ``(5) an assurance that the State shall annually submit the 
     report described in section 659F(e).
       ``(b) Submission.--At the election of the State, the State 
     may submit the State plan as a portion of the State plan 
     submitted under section 658E. With respect to that State, 
     references to a State plan--
       ``(1) in this part shall be considered to refer to the 
     portions of the plan described in this section; and
       ``(2) in part 1 shall be considered to refer to the 
     portions of the plan described in section 658E.
       ``(c) Certification.--The Secretary shall certify any State 
     plan that meets the broad goals of this part.

     ``SEC. 659F. STATE ACTIVITIES.

       ``(a) In General.--A State that receives an allotment under 
     section 659C shall use the funds made available through the 
     allotment to support healthy early childhood development 
     systems of care, by--
       ``(1) making allocations to political subdivisions under 
     section 659G; and
       ``(2) carrying out State activities described in subsection 
     (c).
       ``(b) Mandatory Reservation for Local Allocations.--The 
     State shall reserve 85 percent of the funds made available 
     through the allotment to make allocations to political 
     subdivisions under section 659G.
       ``(c) Permissible State Activities.--The State may use the 
     remainder of the funds made available through the allotment 
     to support healthy early childhood development systems of 
     care by--
       ``(1) entering into interagency agreements with appropriate 
     entities to encourage coordinated efforts at the State and 
     local levels to improve the State delivery system for early 
     childhood development services;
       ``(2) advising local councils on the coordination of 
     delivery of early childhood development services to children;
       ``(3) developing programs and projects, including pilot 
     projects, to encourage coordinated efforts at the State and 
     local levels to

[[Page S6305]]

     improve the State delivery system for early childhood 
     development services;
       ``(4) providing technical support for local councils and 
     development of educational materials;
       ``(5) providing education and training for child care 
     providers; and
       ``(6) supporting research and development of best practices 
     for healthy early childhood development systems of care, 
     establishing standards for such systems, and carrying out 
     program evaluations for such systems.
       ``(d) Administration.--A State that receives an allotment 
     under section 659C may use not more than 5 percent of the 
     funds made available through the allotment to pay for the 
     costs of administering the activities carried out under this 
     part.
       ``(e) Report.--The State shall annually prepare and submit 
     to the Secretary a report on the activities carried out under 
     this part in the State, which shall include details of the 
     use of Federal funds to carry out the activities and the 
     extent to which the States and political subdivisions are 
     making progress on State or local goals in carrying out the 
     activities. In preparing the report, a State may require 
     political subdivisions in the State to submit information to 
     the State, and may compile the information.

     ``SEC. 659G. ALLOCATION TO POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.

       From the funds reserved by a State under section 659F(b) 
     for a fiscal year, the State shall allot to each eligible 
     political subdivision in the State the sum of--
       ``(1) an amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of 
     such funds as the number of young children in the political 
     subdivision bears to the number of such children in all 
     eligible political subdivisions in the State; and
       ``(2) an amount that bears the same ratio to 50 percent of 
     such funds as the number of children in poverty in the 
     political subdivision bears to the number of such children in 
     all eligible political subdivisions in the State.

     ``SEC. 659H. LOCAL COUNCILS.

       ``(a) In General.--The chief executive officer of a 
     political subdivision that is located in a State with a State 
     council and that seeks an allocation under section 659G may, 
     at the election of the officer--
       ``(1) establish and appoint the members of a local early 
     childhood development coordinating council, as described in 
     subsection (b); or
       ``(2) designate an entity to serve as such a council, as 
     described in subsection (c).
       ``(b) Appointed Local Council.--The officer may establish 
     and appoint the members of a local council that may include--
       ``(1) representatives of any public or private agency that 
     funds, advocates the provision of, or provides services to 
     children and families;
       ``(2) representatives of schools;
       ``(3) members of families that have received services from 
     an agency represented on the council;
       ``(4) representatives of courts; and
       ``(5) private providers of social services for families and 
     children.
       ``(c) Designated Local Council.--The officer may designate 
     an entity to serve as the local council if the entity--
       ``(1) includes members that are substantially similar to 
     the members described in subsection (b); and
       ``(2) provides integrated and coordinated early childhood 
     development services.
       ``(d) Duties.--In a political subdivision with a local 
     council, the local council--
       ``(1) shall submit the local plan described in section 
     659I;
       ``(2) shall carry out activities described in section 
     659J(a);
       ``(3) may carry out activities described in section 
     659J(b); and
       ``(4) shall submit such information as a State council may 
     require under section 659F(e).

     ``SEC. 659I. LOCAL PLAN.

       ``To be eligible to receive an allocation under section 
     659G, a political subdivision shall submit a local plan to 
     the State at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
     information as the State may require.

     ``SEC. 659J. LOCAL ACTIVITIES.

       ``(a) Mandatory Activities.--A political subdivision that 
     receives an allocation under section 659G shall use the funds 
     made available through the allocation--
       ``(1) to provide assistance to entities carrying out early 
     childhood development services through a healthy early 
     childhood development system of care, in order to meet 
     assessed needs for the services, expand the number of 
     children receiving the services, and improve the quality of 
     the services, both for young children who remain in the home 
     and young children that require services in addition to 
     services offered in child care settings; and
       ``(2)(A) to establish and maintain an accountability system 
     to monitor the progress of the political subdivision in 
     achieving results for families and children through services 
     provided through the healthy early childhood development 
     system of care for the political subdivision; and
       ``(B) to establish and maintain a mechanism to ensure 
     ongoing input from a broad and representative set of families 
     who are receiving services through the healthy early 
     childhood development system of care for the political 
     subdivision.
       ``(b) Permissible Activities.--A political subdivision that 
     receives an allocation under section 659G may use the funds 
     made available through the allocation--
       ``(1) to improve the healthy early childhood development 
     system of care by enhancing efforts and building new 
     opportunities for--
       ``(A) innovation in early childhood development services; 
     and
       ``(B) formation of partnerships with businesses, 
     associations, churches or other religious institutions, and 
     charitable or philanthropic organizations to provide early 
     childhood development services on behalf of young children; 
     and
       ``(2) to develop and implement a process that annually 
     evaluates and prioritizes services provided through the 
     healthy early childhood development system of care, fills 
     service gaps in that system where possible, and invests in 
     new approaches to achieve better results for families and 
     children through that system.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendments.--Part 1 of the Child Care and 
     Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) 
     is amended--
       (1) in section 658A(a) (42 U.S.C. 9801 note), by striking 
     ``This subchapter'' and inserting ``This part'';
       (2) except as provided in the last sentence of section 
     658E(c)(2)(F) (42 U.S.C. 9858c(c)(2)(F)) and in section 
     658N(a)(3)(C) (42 U.S.C. 9858l(a)(3)(C)), by striking ``this 
     subchapter'' and inserting ``this part''; and
       (3) in section 658N(a)(3)(C), by striking ``under this 
     subchapter'' and inserting ``under this part''.
                TITLE V--CREDENTIALING AND ACCREDITATION

     SEC. 501. DEFINITIONS.

       In this title:
       (1) Accredited child care facility.--The term ``accredited 
     child care facility'' means--
       (A) a facility that is accredited, by a child care 
     credentialing or accreditation entity recognized by a State 
     or national organization described in paragraph (2)(A), to 
     provide child care (except children who a tribal organization 
     elects to serve through a facility described in subparagraph 
     (B));
       (B) a facility that is accredited, by a child care 
     credentialing or accreditation entity recognized by a tribal 
     organization, to provide child care for children served by 
     the tribal organization;
       (C) a facility that is used as a Head Start center under 
     the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) and is in 
     compliance with applicable performance standards established 
     by regulation under such Act for Head Start programs; or
       (D) a military child development center (as defined in 
     section 1798(1) of title 10, United States Code) that is in a 
     facility owned or leased by the Department of Defense or the 
     Coast Guard.
       (2) Child care credentialing or accreditation entity.--The 
     term ``child care credentialing or accreditation entity'' 
     means a nonprofit private organization or public agency 
     that--
       (A) is recognized by a State agency, a tribal organization, 
     or a national organization that serves as a peer review panel 
     on the standards and procedures of public and private child 
     care or school accrediting bodies; and
       (B) accredits a facility or credentials an individual to 
     provide child care on the basis of--
       (i) an accreditation or credentialing instrument based on 
     peer-validated research;
       (ii) compliance with applicable State and local licensing 
     requirements, or standards described in section 
     658E(c)(2)(E)(ii) of the Child Care and Development Block 
     Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9858c(c)(2)(E)(ii)), as appropriate, for 
     the facility or individual;
       (iii) outside monitoring of the facility or individual; and
       (iv) criteria that provide assurances of--

       (I) compliance with age-appropriate health and safety 
     standards at the facility or by the individual;
       (II) use of age-appropriate developmental and educational 
     activities, as an integral part of the child care program 
     carried out at the facility or by the individual; and
       (III) use of ongoing staff development or training 
     activities for the staff of the facility or the individual, 
     including related skills-based testing.

       (3) Credentialed child care professional.--The term 
     ``credentialed child care professional'' means--
       (A) an individual who--
       (i) is credentialed, by a child care credentialing or 
     accreditation entity recognized by a State or a national 
     organization described in paragraph (2)(A), to provide child 
     care (except children who a tribal organization elects to 
     serve through an individual described in subparagraph (B)); 
     or
       (ii) successfully completes a 4-year or graduate degree in 
     a relevant academic field (such as early childhood education, 
     education, or recreation services);
       (B) an individual who is credentialed, by a child care 
     credentialing or accreditation entity recognized by a tribal 
     organization, to provide child care for children served by 
     the tribal organization; or
       (C) an individual certified by the Armed Forces of the 
     United States to provide child care as a family child care 
     provider (as defined in section 658P of the Child Care and 
     Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n)) in 
     military family housing.
       (4) Child in poverty.--The term ``child in poverty'' means 
     a child that is a member of a family with an income that does 
     not exceed 200 percent of the poverty line.

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       (5) Poverty line.--The term ``poverty line'' means the 
     poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and 
     Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 
     673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 
     9902(2))) applicable to a family of the size involved.
       (6) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
     of Health and Human Services.
       (7) State; tribal organization.--The terms ``State'' and 
     ``tribal organization'' have the meaning given the term in 
     section 658P of the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 9858n).

     SEC. 502. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATION.

       There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this 
     title, $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2000 through 
     2004.

     SEC. 503. STATE ALLOTMENTS.

       From the funds appropriated under section 502 for a fiscal 
     year, the Secretary shall allot to each eligible State, to 
     pay for the cost of establishing and carrying out State child 
     care credentialing and accreditation incentive programs, an 
     amount that bears the same ratio to such funds as the number 
     of children in poverty under age 5 in the State bears to the 
     number of such children in all States.

     SEC. 504. APPLICATION.

       To be eligible to receive an allotment under section 503, a 
     State shall submit an application to the Secretary at such 
     time, in such manner, and containing such information as the 
     Secretary may require.

     SEC. 505. STATE CHILD CARE CREDENTIALING AND ACCREDITATION 
                   INCENTIVE PROGRAM.

       (a) In General.--A State that receives an allotment under 
     section 503 shall use funds made available through the 
     allotment to establish and carry out a State child care 
     credentialing and accreditation incentive program. In 
     carrying out the program, the State shall make payments to 
     child care providers who serve children under age 5 to assist 
     the providers in making financial assistance available for 
     employees of the providers who are pursuing skills-based 
     training to--
       (1) enable the employees to obtain credentialing as 
     credentialed child care professionals; or
       (2) enable the facility involved to obtain accreditation as 
     an accredited child care facility.
       (b) Application.--To be eligible to receive a payment under 
     subsection (a), a child care provider shall submit an 
     application to the State at such time, in such manner, and 
     containing such information as the State may require 
     including, at a minimum--
       (1) information demonstrating that an employee of the 
     provider is pursuing skills-based training that will enable 
     the employee or the facility involved to obtain credentialing 
     or accreditation as described in subsection (a); and
       (2) an assurance that the provider will make available 
     contributions toward the costs of providing the financial 
     assistance described in subsection (a), in an amount that is 
     not less than $1 for every $1 of Federal funds provided 
     through the payment.

     SEC. 506. ADMINISTRATION.

       A State that receives an allotment under section 503 may 
     use not more than 5 percent of the funds made available 
     through the allotment to pay for the costs of administering 
     the program described in section 505.

     SEC. 507. CREDENTIALING, ACCREDITATION, AND RETENTION OF 
                   QUALIFIED CHILD CARE WORKERS.

       Section 658G of the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
     Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858e) is amended--
       (1) by inserting ``and payments to encourage child care 
     providers who serve children under age 5 to obtain 
     credentialing as credentialed child care providers or 
     accreditation for their facilities as accredited child care 
     facilities or to encourage retention of child care providers 
     who serve those children and have obtained that credentialing 
     or accreditation, in areas that the State determines are 
     underserved'' after ``referral services''; and
       (2) by adding at the end the following: ``In this section, 
     the terms `credentialed child care provider' and `accredited 
     child care facility' have the meanings given the terms in 
     section 501 of the Prenatal, Infant, and Child Development 
     Act of 1999.''.

 Mr. BAYH. Mr. President, today I rise as an original co-
sponsor of the Prenatal Child and Infant Development Act, a bipartisan 
bill to provide states with the flexibility they need to address the 
needs of children during their formative years.
  Children are born into this world with all the potential they need to 
make their dreams come true. The ages of birth to 3 are the most 
critical for a child's development both mentally and socially. They 
have all the 100 billion brains cells they will need as adults. By age 
three, children have nearly all the necessary connections between the 
brain cells needed for the brain to function fully and properly. It is 
up to us, families, teachers, childcare providers, and communities to 
help our children live up to their potential. It is important that our 
children are ready to learn and we allow them the opportunity to 
maximize their potential. What income bracket a child is born into 
should not determine that child's future. If a child is not provided 
with proper health care, nutritional food, and a nurturing environment 
to grow up in, we are leading down a very dark path.
  Sadly, it has been confirmed that children who lack proper nutrition, 
health care, and nurturing during their first years also lack the 
adequate social, motor, and language skills needed to perform well in 
school and in life. That is why I have joined efforts with Senator 
Voinovich and Senator Graham and support the Prenatal Child and Infant 
Development Act. This initiative has bipartisan support because it is 
important legislation that addresses something we should all have in 
common, helping our children prepare for the future. A child birth to 3 
years old that is in need of assistance can not do it on her own.
  Specifically, this bill will allow States to transfer up to 45% of 
the money they receive for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to 
the Child Care Development Block Grant or the Social Services Block 
Grant. The 15% increase in transferability will go towards increasing 
local early childhood development coordination councils and to enhance 
child care quality under the existing Child Care Development Block 
Grant. This new flexibility will allow states to spend the money needed 
to ensure our children are not sentenced to unfulfillment of their 
dreams just because they were denied child care services during their 
most vital development stages.
  In Indiana, there are over 488,000 children under the age of six. 70% 
of those children are in child care. Indiana is one of those states 
that has transferred the entire amount currently allowed from Temporary 
Assistance for Needy Families funds to the Child Care Development Block 
Grant for child care services and quality initiatives. Even after the 
State was able to provide services for 65,185 children, there still 
remains a need to help at least an additional 267,500 children. There 
is a need in my State to have the flexibility to transfer and utilize 
funds that otherwise are not being spent so these children can be 
served.
  One of the programs this new flexibility will allow to expand in 
Indiana is the Building Bright Beginnings Coalition. This coalition is 
focused on assisting children that are prenatal to four years old. They 
have reached over 150,000 parents of newborns through their publication 
``A Parent's Guide to Raising Health, Happy Babies''. The coalition has 
implemented the ``See and Demand Quality Child Care'' campaign 
consisting of public service announcements, billboards, pamphlets, and 
a toll-free telephone line for parent information in cooperation with 
local resources and referral agencies. It also makes loans available to 
child care providers who are considered non-traditional borrowers, and 
it has formed an institute that creates a public private partnership 
with higher education as well as the health, education, and early 
childhood communities. In the short time this program has been in 
place, it has helped over 100,000 parents of newborns be better 
informed, over 10,000 new public private partnerships have been formed, 
and it has directly impacted the lives of over 15,000 children. We need 
more programs like this and in order for them to exist States need more 
flexibility with their funding streams.
  These quality initiatives are administered by Indiana's Step Ahead 
Councils. Step Ahead Councils are the types of councils this bill hopes 
to promote. Indiana has had a council in each of its 92 counties since 
1991. These councils allow for locally focused solutions and 
initiatives to locally based challenges with child care, parent 
information, early intervention, child nutrition and health screening. 
Local responses to local problems can create better solutions. This 
bill encourages such local involvement.
  In addition, there are several other important goals this bill helps 
to accomplish. It will allow more programs to address the needs of 
prenatal to three year olds, it will increase satellite training for 
Head Start and other childhood program staff, it will increase direct 
child care and health services, and will encourage States to implement 
training programs for childcare providers.
  As a Senator and a father of two 3\1/2\ year old boys, I am proud to 
support

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this bill and publically voice the need to invest in all children. 
There is no better way to utlize a dollar than to invest it in our 
future. Thank you Senator Voinovich and Senator Graham for initiating 
this legislation, I urge my colleagues, when the time comes, to support 
this bill and the message behind it.
                                 ______