[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 30 (Monday, July 28, 1997)]
[Page 1116]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement Announcing the White House Conference on Child Care

July 23, 1997

    Today the First Lady and I are pleased to announce that on October 
23, 1997, we will host the White House Conference on Child Care. The 
conference, which will take place at the White House, will examine the 
strengths and weaknesses of child care in America and explore how our 
Nation can better respond to the needs of working families for 
affordable, high quality child care.
    Over the past decade, the number of American families with working 
parents has expanded dramatically. Making high quality child care more 
affordable and accessible is critical to the strength of our families 
and to healthy child development and learning. It is also good for the 
economy and central to a productive American work force.
    This Nation can and should do better. Each of us--from businesses to 
religious leaders to policymakers and elected officials--has a 
responsibility and an important stake in making sure that children of 
all ages have the best possible care available to them. From infancy 
through adolescence, in child care settings and afterschool programs, 
children can learn and thrive with the right care, attention, and 
education.
    I hope that this conference will be the beginning of a national 
dialog about how best to care for all of America's children and will 
make a valuable contribution to our effort to improve child care in this 
country.