[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3393-S3394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  NATIONAL CHILD CARE WORTHY WAGE DAY

  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I strongly support a resolution by 
Senator Menendez supporting National Child Care Worthy Wage Day. I hope 
that it will shine a brighter light on the many challenges facing the 
early childhood education and care community and the importance of 
attracting and retaining excellent childcare workers.
  Across the country today, nearly two-thirds of children under the age 
of 5 are in some form of nonparental care while their parents are at 
work and more and more research emphasizes that learning begins at 
birth. The quality of early care that children receive has a profound 
impact on the rest of their lives.
  Children in high-quality early care and education programs are 30 
percent more likely to graduate from high school and twice as likely to 
go to college. They are also 40 percent less likely to be held back a 
grade or need expensive special education programs.
  Childcare is particularly effective for at-risk students. Important 
studies, including the research of both Nobel Laureate Economist James 
Heckman and Chairman of the Federal Reserve Ben Bernanke, show that 
quality early care and education can break the cycle of poverty and 
crime. Heckman's survey of at-risk boys who receive quality early 
education found that less than 10 percent of boys who participate will 
be convicted of a crime and less than 2 percent will end up on 
welfare--rates significantly lower than for those who do not receive 
such support.
  The key to assuring quality early childhood education and care for 
our youth is access to a highly qualified educator or caregiver. 
Despite the obvious importance of their work, however,

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child care providers are underpaid, unsupported and undervalued.
  These providers are responsible for the social, emotional and mental 
development of the children in their care. They teach skills that young 
children need in order to be ready to read and learn when they go to 
school. They help young children learn about the world around them and 
how to interact with others. Yet the average salary of an early care 
and education workers is $18,820, and less than a third of them have 
health insurance.
  In Massachusetts, those numbers are only marginally better--childcare 
workers are paid a little over $10 an hour and earn $22,760 annually. 
By comparison, registered nurses make $37,511 a year, police officers 
earn $37,078, and K through 12 teachers earn $32,306.
  The story of Melvina Vandross is typical. She has spent the last 20 
years caring for children in poor families in New York City. Due to the 
lack of sufficient Federal subsidies, she makes less than $19,000 a 
year in one of the world's most expensive cities. She has no health 
insurance, and could not afford to get her son the tutor he needed to 
succeed in school. Her commitment to the futures of some of the 
Nation's least fortunate children has made it nearly impossible for her 
to provide for herself and her family.
  Melvina's story is unacceptable. It is unacceptable that Head Start 
teachers in Montana qualify for Habitat for Humanity homes. The men and 
women who shape the lives of our Nation's children deserve fair wages 
and benefits. The sacrifice we are asking of them for their 
indispensible work is too high.
  Inadequate wages and benefits have made it difficult to recruit and 
retain qualified childcare providers. Turnover rates are going through 
the roof. Almost 30 percent of child care providers leave the field 
every year. Neither their wages nor their turnaround rates are 
acceptable. If we want our children to be cared for by qualified 
providers who have a good education and sound understanding of child 
development, we must see that they are fairly compensated and 
supported, commensurate with their contribution to our national, civic 
and economic well-being. They are indeed deserving of a worthy wage for 
their worthy work that is so important for the Nation's future. I urge 
my colleagues to support this important resolution. We owe it to the 
Nation's childcare providers, and we owe it to our Nation's children 
and their families.

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