[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1998, Book I)]
[February 5, 1998]
[Page 180]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Proposed Child Care Legislation
February 5, 1998

    Earlier this week, I submitted my budget proposal to Congress. I am 
proud that this budget--the first balanced budget in a generation--
includes an ambitious initiative to make child care better, safer, and 
more affordable. Yesterday we moved closer to achieving meaningful child 
care legislation because of an important step taken by Senator Chris 
Dodd and many of his Democratic 
colleagues in the Senate. Senator Dodd has introduced a comprehensive 
child care package that, like mine, 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 for their employees, increases after-
school opportunities for children, promotes early learning, and improves 
child care quality.
    In putting forward this proposal, Senator Dodd and his cosponsors 
have built on their longstanding commitment to improving child care for 
our Nation's children. I was also pleased that last week a group of 
Republicans introduced a promising child care proposal. I look forward 
to working with the Congress on a bipartisan basis to enact child care 
legislation this year that will help Americans fulfill their 
responsibilities as workers, and even more importantly, as parents.