[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 57 (Tuesday, May 1, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S4121]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 79--DESIGNATING MAY 1, 2001, AS ``NATIONAL CHILD CARE 
                           WORTHY WAGE DAY''

  Mr. CORZINE (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Dodd, Mrs. Carnahan, Mr. 
Cleland, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. Feingold) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary.

                               S. Res. 79

       Whereas approximately 13,000,000 children are in out-of-
     home care during part or all of the day so that their parents 
     may work;
       Whereas the average salary of early childhood educators is 
     $15,000 per year, and only \1/3\ have health insurance and 
     even fewer have a pension plan;
       Whereas the quality of child care and other early childhood 
     education programs is directly linked to the quality of early 
     childhood educators, and low wages make it difficult to 
     attract qualified individuals to the profession;
       Whereas the turnover rate of early childhood educators is 
     approximately 30 percent per year because of low wages and 
     lack of benefits, making it difficult to retain high quality 
     educators, and research has demonstrated that young children 
     require caring relationships to have a consistent presence in 
     their lives for their positive development;
       Whereas the compensation of early childhood educators must 
     be commensurate with the importance of the job of helping the 
     young children of the United States develop their social, 
     emotional, physical, and intellectual skills to be ready for 
     school;
       Whereas the cost of adequate compensation cannot be funded 
     by further burdening parents with higher child care fees but 
     requires public as well as private resources so that quality 
     care and education is accessible for all families; and
       Whereas the Center for the Child Care Workforce and other 
     early childhood education organizations recognize May 1st as 
     National Child Care Worthy Wage Day: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates May 1, 2001, as ``National Child Care Worthy 
     Wage Day''; and
       (2) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
     calling on the people of the United States to observe 
     ``National Child Care Worthy Wage Day'' by honoring early 
     childhood educators and programs in their communities and by 
     working together to resolve the early childhood educator 
     compensation crisis.

  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce a resolution 
supporting National Child Care Worthy Wage Day, which I hope will being 
attention to early childhood education and the importance of attracting 
and retaining qualified childcare workers.
  Every day, approximately 13 million children are cared for outside 
the home so that their parents can work. This figure includes 6 million 
of our nation's infants and toddlers. Children begin to learn at birth, 
and the quality of care they receive will affect them for the rest of 
their lives. Early childcare affects language development, math skills, 
social behavior, and general readiness for school. Experienced 
childcare workers can identify children who have development or 
emotional problems and provide the care they need to take on life's 
challenges. Through the creative use of play, structured activities and 
individual attention, childcare workers help young children learn about 
the world around them and how to interact with others. They also teach 
the skills children will need to be ready to read and to learn when 
they go to school.
  Unfortunately, despite the importance of their work, the committed 
individuals who nurture and teach our nation's young children are 
undervalued. The average salary of a childcare worker is about $15,000 
annually. In 1998, the middle 50 percent of child care workers and pre-
school teachers earned between $5.82 and $8.13 an hour, according to 
the Department of labor. The lowest 10 percent of childcare workers 
were paid an hourly rate of $5.49 or less. Only one third of our 
nation's childcare workers have health insurance and even fewer have 
pension plans. This grossly inadequate level of wages and benefits for 
childcare staff has led to difficulties in attracting and retaining 
high quality caretakers and educators. As a result, the turnover rate 
for childcare providers is 30 percent a year. This high turnover rate 
interrupts consistent and stable relationships that children need to 
have with their caregivers.
  If we want our children cared for by qualified providers with higher 
degrees and more training, we will have to make sure they are 
adequately compensated. Otherwise, we will continue to lose early 
childhood educators with BA degrees to kindergarten and first grade, 
losing some of our best teachers of young children from the early years 
of learning.
  In order to bring attention to childcare workers, I am sponsoring a 
resolution that would designate May 1st as National Child Care Worthy 
Wage Day. On May 1st each year, childcare providers and other early 
childhood professionals nationwide conduct public awareness and 
education efforts highlighting the importance of good early childhood 
education.
  I encourage my colleagues to join me in recognizing the importance of 
the work and professionalism that childcare workers provide and the 
need to increase their compensation accordingly. The nation's childcare 
workforce, the families who depend on them, and the children they care 
for, deserve our support.

                          ____________________