[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8351]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



              IN RECOGNITION OF PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FRANKS

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 16, 2000

  Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, today I honor child care 
providers across the nation on Provider Appreciation Day.
  Provider Appreciation Day, which is celebrated on the Friday before 
Mother's Day, was spearheaded by a group of volunteers in New Jersey in 
1966 who saw the need for a day to appreciate and recognize child care 
providers.
  The contribution that child care providers make to the quality of 
family life in this country is immeasurable. With the changing nature 
of the workforce, more mothers are working than ever before. Often 
times, this means that more children must be placed in child care. 
According to recent surveys, there are approximately 13 million 
children in the United States under the age of six in child care at 
least part time. An additional 24 million school age children are in 
some form of child care outside of school time.
  Early childhood is the most critical time of development and may have 
the most impact on the shape of a child's future. Child care providers 
largely influence these important years with their compassion, 
patience, encouragement, and love for young children.
  Whether they work in a child care center, nursery school, family-
daycare, or before-school and after-school program, it takes a special 
person to choose the field of child care. Provider Appreciation Day 
offers a unique opportunity to recognize and commend the dedication, 
understanding, kindness, and good example that child care providers 
exemplify everyday.
  I would like to take this opportunity to thank Suzanne Williamson, 
Chairwoman of Provider Appreciation Day, for her hard work in 
establishing a national day of recognition for child car providers. Ms. 
Williamson is also the Director for Monday Morning Child Care, Inc., a 
network of child car providers located in Union County, New Jersey. I 
would also like to express my gratitude to Nelida ``Nellie'' Melendez-
Carroll who cares for my two and a half year old daughter, Kelly.
  Please join me in thanking child care providers nationwide for their 
hard work and self-sacrifice in committing their lives to this nation's 
most precious investment . . . our children.

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