    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [May 9, 1998]
    [Pages 732-733]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 732]]

    The President's Radio Address
    May 9, 1998

        Good morning. Tomorrow is Mother's Day, a special moment to express
    the gratitude, respect, and love we feel all year round. Our mothers
    give us life; they offer us unconditional love, strong guidance, and the
    sense that we can grow up to do anything we can dream of. From our first
    moments, mothers are our best teachers and most selfless friends. And
    like my own mother, whom I miss very much, especially on Mother's Day,
    they rarely ask for thanks. A mother's main wish is to see her children
    grow up healthy and happy.
        Today I want to talk about a few ways we, here in Washington, can
    give all mothers that peace of mind, whether they work in an office, a
    factory, a hospital, or at home. To make that tribute to motherhood, we
    must all take responsibility for the care of our children. For many
    mothers who work, as my mother did, peace of mind requires affordable,
    quality child care. Millions of American women have full-time jobs
    outside the home. Three of five mothers with children under 6 are
    working to meet their obligations to their children and their employers.
    Juggling those responsibilities is even more difficult when quality
    child care is either hard to find or too expensive to afford.
        That's why I've included in my balanced budget a significant new
    investment in child care. I urge Congress to join me in making child
    care better, safer, and more affordable for those who need it.
        To help parents find the best care for their children, today I'm
    releasing a report by the Department of Health and Human Services. It's
    a consumer guide to child care quality that recommends four steps for
    parents: One, interview the potential caregivers; two, check the
    references; three, evaluate how the caregiver meets your child's needs;
    and four, stay involved. As Mother's Day reminds us, governments don't
    raise children, parents do. There is no substitute for a mother's love
    or a parent's responsibility.
        We, too, in the National and State Governments, however, have a
    responsibility. A big one is to protect America's children from abuse
    and neglect. Nothing gives mothers peace of mind like the knowledge
    their children are in safe hands. Today I'm also releasing a new Justice
    Department set of guidelines for screening child care workers and other
    caregivers. And again, I urge Congress to act on a proposal I've put
    forth to facilitate background checks on child caregivers. There is
    strong bipartisan support for this proposal, and I'm hopeful that
    members of both parties will move quickly to give America's children the
    care they deserve.
        There is one other thing I'd like to talk about that we must do to
    protect our children. Fathers must take their share of responsibility,
    too. Children deserve to be raised by both parents, but when that's not
    possible, children must still receive the support they need. The
    unfortunate division of families cannot mean the end of child support.
    That's why we have worked so hard to toughen enforcement of child
    support laws, and since 1992 we've raised collections by 68 percent a
    year.
        We've worked too hard for too long toughening enforcement of child
    support laws to let our progress be accidentally undone. But that could
    happen if Congress goes ahead with one part of bankruptcy reform
    legislation now under consideration. I'm willing to work with Congress
    to pass responsible and fair bankruptcy reform. However, under one
    leading proposal, when a father declares personal bankruptcy, a mother
    may have to compete with powerful banks and credit card companies for
    the money they're owed. That's not the law now, and if that competition
    starts, we all know who will lose the contest: our children.
        Parents have to step up to their responsibilities, and so does
    Congress. Some changes to consumer bankruptcy laws are in order, but
    mothers and children should keep their priority under the child support
    laws. They shouldn't have to stand in line for the support they need.
        America's mothers hold a special place in our hearts. In return, we
    owe them the love and respect they have given us. On Mother's Day, we do
    so with cards, bouquets, and gifts. But today and every other day, we
    should also do everything in our power to give our mothers the peace of
    mind they deeply deserve.
        Thanks for listening.

    [[Page 733]]

    Note: The address was recorded at 9:56 a.m. on May 8 in the Oval Office
    at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on May 9.