[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 122 (Thursday, August 6, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8983-S8984]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SENATE EMPLOYEES' CHILD CARE CENTER

  Mr. BENNETT. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize the Senate 
Employees' Child Care Center for 25 years of service.
  The Senate Employees' Child Care Center opened its doors on February 
27, 1984, as the first childcare center on Capitol Hill. Its successful 
opening is attributed to the dedication and hard work of Senate 
Members, employees, and their families.
  The center has grown, much like the children and Senate families it 
has served. On opening day, the center had 27 children enrolled from 
the ages of 18 months to 5 years. By comparison, the center today has 
grown to a full enrollment of 68 children from the ages of 10 weeks to 
5 years.
  The center first opened in what was known as the Immigration Building 
and is now the Capitol Police headquarters. As it outgrew that space, a 
new facility was constructed nearby. Enrollment and growth continued, 
necessitating the construction of a new facility in December of 1999.
  While many things have changed over the past 25 years, such as the 
location, number of children served, and the faces of teachers and 
families, one constant is this: the Senate Employees' Child Care Center 
remains a first-class facility. Families continue to appreciate the 
comfort of knowing their children are in a safe and enriching 
educational environment. In fact, many families refer to the Center as 
a ``school'' rather than a daycare facility.
  We and our staffs strive for excellence. The Senate Employees' Child 
Care Center does the same. In 1989, it became the first center in 
Washington, DC, to achieve accreditation from the National Association 
for the Education of Young Children, NAEYC. This accreditation is the 
``gold standard'' for early childhood education, and the center has 
maintained it continuously since 1989.
  As in the early days, families with children enrolled in the center 
are encouraged to be involved in its daily operations. Many families 
spend their lunch hours doing ``nap duty,'' others

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serve on the Board of Directors, and others assist with special 
classroom projects. Parental involvement fosters a cooperative 
environment and further contributes to the center's excellence.
  The greatest asset of the Senate Employees' Child Care Center is its 
teachers. One of the original teachers, Phyllis Green, continues to 
provide lessons that will serve children well throughout their lives. 
She is one of many dedicated professionals who connect with both 
children and parents in very special ways.
  I offer my congratulations to the Senate Employees' Child Care Center 
on achieving this milestone and best wishes for many more years of 
service.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I rise to join my colleague Senator 
Bennett to recognize the 25th anniversary of the Senate Employees' 
Child Care Center's founding and to congratulate the SECCC on its many 
years of service to the Senate.
  The original families and those who have followed share many memories 
of their experiences with the SECCC. They recall the development of a 
playground in what is now Senate Parking Lot 19; the center's role in 
the creation of the congressional holiday ornaments; the day the 
children watched as the sculpture Mountains and Clouds was installed in 
the Hart atrium; and the annual Fourth of July parade, with the 
children dressed in red, white and blue as they march from the child 
care center to the Hart Office Building. Most important, they speak of 
the growth and development of their children.
  The Senate is well served by the Senate Employees' Child Care Center 
and the staff members who work there. I want to thank the center for 
its 25 years of service to the Senate.

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