[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 18, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S5443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mrs. Clinton):
  S. 1065. A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to extend 
child care eligibility for children of members of the Armed Forces who 
die in the line of duty; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I rise with my distinguished 
colleague from New York, Senator Clinton, to introduce legislation that 
will provide a surviving spouse with two years of child care 
eligibility on any military instillation or Federal facility with a 
child care center. The legislation was inspired by our work on the 
Senate Armed Services Committee. In February the committee held an 
important hearing on improving survivor benefits and the government's 
role in helping survivors cope with the loss of a loved one. All too 
often surviving spouses are forced to make difficult, life changing 
decisions alone. Both Senator Clinton and I are determined to provide 
as much help as possible to those who must bear the burden of loss, 
particularly those with young children. By providing two years of child 
care eligibility, our goal is to ensure that a surviving spouse has the 
time and tools necessary to make a healthy adjustment to life after the 
servicemember's death. Many decisions face survivors, most importantly, 
how to make a living. Often that means having to re-enter the work 
force after years of being a working mother. The question of how to 
adequately care for young children while trying to find employment or 
restart a career should not be an issue. Further, we have expanded this 
eligibility to include access to child care centers in other Federal 
facilities. This will aide surviving spouses with children if they are 
in the process of relocating to an area of the country without a 
military base nearby, but in the proximity of a local Federal building. 
I am honored that Senator Clinton is working with me on this 
legislation and I encourage my colleagues to support this important 
measure.
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