[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 122, 110th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

 
[NOTE: May 2, 2008 -  [H.Con.Res.112]   NATIONAL CHILD CARE WORTHY WAGE
DAY--SUPPORT

Whereas approximately 63 percent of the Nation's children under 5 are in
nonparental care during part or all of the day while their parents
work;

Whereas the early care and education industry employs more than
2,300,000 workers;

Whereas the average salary of early care and education workers is
$18,180 per year, and only \1/3\ have health insurance and even
fewer have a pension plan;

Whereas the quality of early care and education programs is directly
linked to the quality of early childhood educators;

Whereas the turnover rate of early childhood program staff is roughly 30
percent per year, and low wages and lack of benefits, among other
factors, make it difficult to retain high quality educators who have
the consistent, caring relationships with young children that are
important to children's development;

Whereas the compensation of early childhood program staff should be
commensurate with the importance of the job of helping the young
children of the Nation develop their social, emotional, physical,
and cognitive skills, and to help them be ready for school;

Whereas providing adequate compensation to early childhood program staff
should be a priority, and resources may be allocated to improve the
compensation of early childhood educators to ensure that quality
care and education are accessible for all families;

Whereas additional training and education for the early care and
education workforce is critical to ensuring high-quality early
learning environments;

Whereas child care workers should receive compensation commensurate with
such training and experience; and

Whereas the Center for the Child Care Workforce, a project of the
American Federation of Teachers Educational Foundation,

[[Page 5138]]
122 STAT. 5138

with support by the National Association for the Education of Young
Children and other early childhood organizations, recognizes May 1
as National Child Care Worthy Wage Day: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That the Congress supports the goals and ideas of National Child Care
Worthy Wage Day, and urges public officials and the general public to
honor early childhood care and education staff and programs in their
communities and to work together to resolve the early childhood care and
education staff compensation crisis.

Agreed to May 2, 2008.