[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 25 (Friday, February 8, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E153]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   VETERANS' ACCESS TO CHILD CARE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, February 7, 2019

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 840) to 
     amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary 
     of Veterans Affairs to provide child care assistance to 
     veterans receiving certain medical services provided by the 
     Department of Veterans Affairs:

  Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Chair, I rise today in support of the 
Veterans' Access to Child Care Act. This bill ensures that Veterans in 
my district and around the country have convenient access to no-cost 
child care when visiting a VA facility for a medical appointment.
  After a survey conducted by the VA last decade found that access to 
child care was a top reason as to why some veterans were missing their 
medical appointments, a pilot program providing no-cost drop-in child 
care service for veterans was established as part of the Caregivers and 
Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010. I am proud that the 
Dallas VA Medical Center is one of four VA facilities that are 
currently piloting the program. This legislation would make the pilot 
program permanent across the country.
  This program has made it easier for parents within my district to 
schedule appointments at the Dallas VA Medical Center without having to 
deal with the stress and worry of finding safe and affordable child 
care options for their children. I am pleased to see that thanks to 
this important legislation, child care facilities like the Carousel 
Academy at the Dallas VA Medical Center may soon open up across the 
country. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation because 
veterans nationwide should have access to the same quality child care 
services that veterans in North Texas have been fortunate to have for 
the past six years.

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