[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 48 (Thursday, April 25, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                  TANF

  (Mr. OLVER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. OLVER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of America's 
children. The President's proposal for welfare reform reauthorization 
increases work requirements for parents receiving Temporary Aid for 
Needy Families, but it does not provide any additional child care 
funding.
  The research from the field of child development is indisputable: 
High quality child care promotes mental development and success in 
school. Under the current program, only one out of seven eligible 
children receives child care assistance.
  In my State of Massachusetts, there are 18,000 eligible children on a 
waiting list for child care assistance.
  Does the President expect the young children of temporary aid 
recipients and low-income working families to care for themselves? Does 
he expect parents to go to work when they do not have a safe place to 
send their children?

                              {time}  1015

  The President's proposal will make what is already a bad situation 
worse. If we really want to reduce poverty in this country, we need to 
make a full commitment to the health and well-being of our poorest and 
most vulnerable children. Increasing Federal funding for child care 
will make it easier for parents to work, and it will ensure that 
children are better able to succeed later in life.

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