    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [March 13, 1997]
    [Pages 305-306]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement Announcing the White House Conference on Early Childhood
    Development and Learning
    March 13, 1997

        Today Hillary and I are pleased to announce that on April 17, 1997,
    we will host the White House Conference on Early Childhood Development
    and Learning: What New Research on the Brain Tells Us About Our Youngest
    Children. The conference, which will take place at the White House, will
    spotlight exciting new findings about how our children develop, and

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    explore how we can make the most of this information to give our
    children what they need to thrive.
        We hope that this one-day conference will make the latest scientific
    research, nearly all supported by the Federal Government, more
    accessible and understandable to America's families. The research
    clearly indicates the importance of children's first few years to their
    later success in school and in life. This conference is a continuation
    of my administration's commitment to children, and in particular, it
    follows Hillary's work over the years on issues relating to early
    childhood development.
        The conference will examine how we can use this new research in
    practical ways--to be better parents, more informed caregivers, and more
    responsive members of our communities. It will also explore how this
    information can be used by all members of our society--from corporate
    executives to pediatricians, from ministers to elected officials--to
    help strengthen America's families.
        Parents desperately want to do right by their children, and we all
    have a role to play in making sure they have the tools they need to do
    the best job they can. We believe this conference can make a valuable
    contribution.