[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 34, Number 9 (Monday, March 2, 1998)]
[Page 343]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Proposed Child Care Legislation

February 26, 1998

    Last month I unveiled my child care initiative to make child care 
better, safer, and more affordable. Today I am pleased that 
Congresswoman Kennelly has introduced comprehensive child care 
legislation that is also designed to meet the needs of America's 
children and families. Congresswoman Kennelly's bill is a strong package 
that, 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, creates a tax credit for businesses that 
provide child care for their employees, increases after-school 
opportunities for children, promotes early learning, and improves child 
care quality.
    This proposal is a testament to Congresswoman Kennelly's leadership 
on this issue and her commitment to the future of our Nation's children. 
I look forward to working with her and other Members of Congress to 
enact bipartisan child care legislation that helps Americans fulfill 
their responsibilities as workers, and even more important, as parents.