    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [January 19, 1999]
    [Page 60]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Proposed Child Care Legislation
    January 19, 1999

        Tonight, in my State of the Union Address, I will outline my agenda
    to help parents struggling to meet their responsibilities at work and at
    home. This agenda includes an ambitious initiative to make child care
    safer, better, and more affordable for America's working families. Today
    Senator Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT) and
    many of his Democratic colleagues in the Senate have taken an important
    step toward reaching that goal by introducing the ``Affordable Child
    Care for Early Success and Security Act (ACCESS).''
        This proposal, 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 and to support parents who
    chose to stay at home to care for their young children. This plan
    dramatically increases after-school opportunities, encourages businesses
    to provide child care for their employees, promotes early learning and
    school readiness, and improves child care quality.
        The ``Child Care ACCESS Act'' builds on the longstanding commitment
    of Senator Dodd and the cosponsors of
    this legislation to improving child care for our Nation's children. I
    look forward to working with Members of Congress in both parties to
    enact child care legislation this year that will help Americans fulfill
    their responsibilities as workers and, even more importantly, as
    parents.