    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
    [June 9, 1998]
    [Page 926]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Proposed Child Care Legislation
    June 9, 1998

        The balanced budget I submitted to Congress includes an ambitious
    initiative to make child care better, safer, and more affordable.
    America's working families and our Nation's children deserve our
    attention and action on this critical issue. Today House Democrats are
    unveiling an important proposal--sponsored by over 100 Representatives--
    to address the child care needs of working families. Like my child care
    initiative, this new package significantly increases child care
    subsidies for poor children, provides greater tax relief to help low-
    and middle-income families pay for child care, creates a tax credit for
    businesses that provide child care to their employees, increases after-
    school opportunities for children, promotes early learning, and improves
    child care quality.
        I believe that by continuing to work together and by taking the best
    proposals from both sides of the aisle, we can achieve legislation that
    helps Americans fulfill their responsibilities as workers, and even more
    importantly, their responsibilities as parents. I welcome this important
    contribution from House Democrats, and I urge all Members of Congress to
    come together this year to improve child care for our Nation's working
    families.