On the recordMarch 13, 2014
First of all, I just want to say--and I mentioned it on the floor the other day--that I spent this weekend in Iowa at two early learning centers, and what became clear to me was the number of different conduits of funding and the different programs, qualifications, requirements, and paperwork. I said at the time: I am confused. The man at the center said: If you think you are confused, how do you think we feel about it? That is why I was very supportive of the amendment offered by Senator Enzi. The Enzi amendment was a mandate on HHS, I believe, to take a look at all of these things and have a report back within a certain amount of time--I think it was 1 year--on how we can better coordinate these. I agree with the Senator. There are way too many conduits into childcare, and it is horribly confusing, and there are all these different requirements that overlap, and this just causes confusion. I wanted to ask the Senator if he had looked at the Enzi amendment, which gives us some time, and I can assure the Senator that our committee--and I am sure I can speak for Senator Burr on this on the Republican side--will be riding herd on this because I think we all agree with the Senator from Oklahoma that it has to be fixed.
