[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.