[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 120 (Tuesday, July 17, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1023]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          HONORING HELEN BLANK

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 17, 2018

  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ms. Helen Blank 
of the Women's Law Center for her lifelong advocacy on behalf of 
children and families. On July 19th, the Coalition on Human Needs will 
honor Ms. Blank as a Special Human Needs Hero. Each year, the coalition 
honors heroes who fight effectively to meet the needs of low income and 
vulnerable people.
  For decades, Helen has been a true champion for families needing high 
quality and affordable care for their children. Before joining the 
National Women's Law Center, Helen served for 24 years as the director 
of the Child Care and Development Division at the Children's Defense 
Fund (CDF).
  I first met Helen when she worked at CDF, and I was Chief of Staff 
for Senator Chris Dodd. We were partners in highlighting early 
childhood development before the passage of the Child Care Development 
Block Grant (CCDBG)--one of Helen's great achievements. Rarely does an 
advocate have such influence on the passage of a law, and this is no 
small or inconsequential law.
  Since its enactment in 1990, the CCDBG has served millions of 
children and families, ensuring that all children can access affordable 
and enriching early learning experiences during their critical years of 
development. Perhaps no one has been as dedicated to its success as 
Helen Blank. She was there to see its funding double at the end of the 
Clinton Administration, and again to see it receive a huge infusion of 
resources in the Recovery Act of 2009 during the Great Recession. Most 
recently, her single focus on the critical nature of funding for CCDBG 
paid off again as earlier this year the budget agreement included 
historic investments in child care.
  She has built successful campaigns that have brought attention to the 
importance of early care and education for the development of healthy 
children. At times, it was an uphill battle to keep the issue front and 
center. During the second Bush Administration, when they proposed to 
make Head Start funding dependent on standardized testing, similar to 
the No Child Left Behind Act, Helen was there along with her powerful 
coalition to help us fight back.
  Through her work, Helen has garnered a reputation as a steadfast and 
principled defender of the needs of children and their families. Her 
work has shined a light on the importance of early childhood education, 
provided guidance on successfully implementing legislation and funding 
in the best interests of children, and inspired hundreds of advocates 
who continue to champion the needs of our youngest. It is my honor and 
privilege today to recognize Helen Blank for her decades of hard work 
and dedication to the health and well-being of our children.

                          ____________________