Heidi Alexander: “I see my distinguished friend the Senator from Iowa on the floor. I am here, very simply, to say that we are about to…”

“I see my distinguished friend the Senator from Iowa on the floor. I am here, very simply, to say that we are about to vote on the Child Care and Development Block Grant, a piece of legislation that would provide childcare to 1.5 million children so that their mothers can work or continue their education or training. I have repeated on this floor several times the story of a young woman in Memphis, TN, who attended LeMoyne-Owen College and received about $500 a month to pay for childcare for her child so she could get her degree. She then graduated from LeMoyne-Owen with a business degree and was able to work her way up to the position of assistant manager at a local Walmart. The block grant helped her be able to continue her education and obtain a good job so that she can now pay for the childcare costs of her second child on her own. This bill has strong support on both sides of the aisle, but we Republicans especially like it because it is a block grant to the States. The grant gives States flexibility with minimal Federal rules. It also encourages the use of vouchers allowing that young mother I just mentioned to choose among her various options for childcare. It doesn't mandate from Washington, it enables from Washington. It recognizes that leaders in States have very good judgment, and what might work in Hawaii might not in Tennessee or Iowa.…”