[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 38 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     QUALITY CHILD CARE ACT OF 2002

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                          HON. HEATHER WILSON

                             of new mexico

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 10, 2002

  Mrs. WILSON of New Mexico. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing a bill 
to help New Mexican children and their parents access quality, 
affordable child care. My bill would provide federal funds to help day 
care centers cover the costs of getting accredited. For many children, 
child care centers are an introduction to the world of learning. It's 
critical to start a child off on the right foot. That's why I am 
focusing on federal child care programs for low-income families and 
people working their way off welfare. We need to make sure that all 
children in child care have access to high quality, affordable 
programs.
  This bill will make a real difference for childcare centers that 
rely, at least in part, on federal block grant funds. It will help day 
care centers provide the quality of care that children need. In New 
Mexico we have more than 22,000 children in federally subsidized child 
care programs.
  The Quality Child Care Act of 2002, will increase funding to help 
child care centers pay for the cost of accreditation. Currently, 
federal law requires that 4% of Child Care and Development Block Grant 
funding is used for child care quality programs. The bill will increase 
the current 4% funding requirement to 8% and would require that 4% be 
set-aside to help child development centers and homes pay for the costs 
associated with accreditation.
  CCDBG is a federal program administered by the Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS) that provides grants to states to subsidize 
the child care expenses of low-income families with children under age 
13, as well as for activities intended to improve the overall quality 
and supply of child care for families in general.
  Education is my personal passion. In the coming weeks I intend to 
introduce two more bills focused on early childhood education.

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