[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 13 (Wednesday, January 31, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E72]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES CHILD CARE ACT, H.R. 251

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 31, 2001

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing the Federal Employees 
Child Care Act, H.R. 251 which will improve the quality of federal 
child care facilities throughout the country.
  I was first introduced to the horrors of inadequate day care by 
former constituents, Mark and Julie Fiedelholtz of Pembroke Pines, 
Florida. Mr. Fiedelholtz asked for my help after the tragic death of 
his 3 month old son, Jeremy. Left at a day care center for merely two 
hours, little Jeremy died as a result of deplorable conditions, 
unqualified personnel and the blatant lack of respect for the laws 
intended to protect our children. Although this horrifying situation 
did not take place in a federal center, the need for clean, safe and 
quality conditions for our children has to be ensured in every child 
care center throughout our Nation.
  Because many of these child care facilities are housed in federal 
buildings, state and local authorities have little or no jurisdiction 
regarding health, fire and safety codes. This Act requires all federal 
centers to be responsible for maintaining these basic regulations. With 
over one thousand federally owned or operated child care centers in the 
United States capable of accommodating 200,000 children, this 
legislation is essential.
  After conferring with representatives from various federal agencies, 
I learned that many federal centers, such as the facilities operated by 
GSA, follow their own standards which in most instances are higher than 
most states. I want to stress that it is not the intention of this bill 
to lower any federal agency standards, should they be greater than the 
state or local regulations. Instead, we are looking to raise the 
standards of those federal centers across the country whose standards 
fall below state and local codes and hold them accountable for failure 
to do so. This bill does not allow state or local law enforcement 
officials to enter federal facilities to perform checks of any kind 
unless GSA agrees to it. This option is left entirely up to the 
discretion of GSA and is not mandated by this bill.
  This legislation includes language which will help GSA in its quest 
to provide a more comprehensive day care plan, by allowing GSA to 
expand its child care services to more children allowing its centers to 
join into a consortium of private businesses and health care providers. 
This provision will enable agencies to partner with external 
organizations, to conduct pilot programs and to search for new methods 
of providing child care assistance to federal employees.
  Our children are so important and the care they receive during their 
first 5 years of development are essential to raising intelligent and 
productive members of society. This legislation can be a great first 
step in ensuring the positive development and growth of our children. 
Accordingly, I look forward to working with my colleagues on additional 
child care measures.

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