[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10622]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



             SUPPORTING CHILD CARE DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANTS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 13, 2000

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of increasing the 
Child Care Development block grant by $417 million in order to meet the 
dire needs of our children and families.
  How in the world do we expect single women to get a job and become 
self sufficient if affordable and adequate child care is not available?
  Reliable and quality child care is necessary for the healthy 
development of our children and for parents' productivity at work.
  I was in the California State Senate when the Welfare Reform Bill was 
signed into law. Then, I adamantly opposed the bill because I knew that 
while most women on Welfare want to work, they do not have affordable 
and accessible child care.
  I was on the Conference Committee in the State Senate that negotiated 
the California Plan. Over and over again we heard testimony from women 
who pleaded with us to provide resources for child care so that they 
could go to work. While we directed additional resources for child 
care, today there are still over 200,000 families on the waiting list 
in California.
  In many states, parents pay more than 10 percent of their income for 
child care. Women who make minimum or low wages can not afford 10 
percent of their income for child care. Yet, welfare reform has forced 
women to take low paying jobs to meet the very stringent work 
requirements that the Congress has imposed. And now, we want to reduce 
even further these meager resources to low-income working families who 
need it now, more than ever.
  I raised 2 boys as a single parent. I will never forget the long 
waiting lists, being told there were not enough slots for my kids and 
then, when I could find decent child care, I couldn't afford it. And, 
that was in the 70's and 80's.
  This country is enjoying an incredible economic boom, and in the dawn 
of a new century, we can certainly establish children as our priority. 
We must do whatever it takes to find the resources to ensure the 
future.
  It is unconscionable that in the year 2000 families must choose 
between food, clothing, housing, or child care. We can and we must do 
better.
  Also, in no way, in the year 2000 should we be reducing the number of 
children being served in child care centers. This debate really does go 
to our fundamental values, our most basic priorities. Do we care about 
our children's future or not?

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