    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1999, Book I)]
    [April 15, 1999]
    [Page 562]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Congressional Action on Proposed Child Care Legislation
    April 15, 1999

        I am pleased that Congress has made important progress this week to
    address the pressing child care needs of America's working families.
        Significant new investments are needed to make child care better,
    safer, and more affordable for working families. My budget request
    includes substantial new resources to help working families pay for
    child care, increase the supply of good after-school programs, improve
    the safety and quality of care, and promote early learning.
        Today Senator Jeffords and
    Representative Gilman introduced, with
    bipartisan cosponsors, the ``Caring for America's Children Act,'' which
    calls for significant new investments to make child care more affordable
    and improve child care quality. Other important legislation has been
    introduced in the House and the Senate during this congressional
    session, as well. And most important, this week the Congress
    demonstrated through votes on the budget resolution that there is strong
    bipartisan support for taking action on child care. I want to thank
    Senators Dodd and Jeffords for their strong leadership on this issue, and I
    look forward to working over the coming months with Members of Congress
    on both sides of the aisle to strengthen child care for America's
    working families.