John Kerry: “as Congress comes back in session for a five-week work period, it is high time we put partisan bickering aside and take…”

“as Congress comes back in session for a five-week work period, it is high time we put partisan bickering aside and take up real issues that will improve the lives of America's hard- working families. Today, I rise to address one such problem--the growing shortage of quality child care for our country's future generations. Over the past 50 years, the United States has witnessed a 43 percent increase in the number of dual- earner and single-parent families. Furthermore, the Census Bureau estimates that more than six million children are left home alone on a regular basis. Nationwide, more households than ever are struggling to make ends meet, while providing safe, nurturing environments for their children to grow up in. For many, child care is not a choice, but a necessity in this endeavor. That is why we owe it to our Nation's families to increase the availability of quality child care--because strong, healthy families build a stronger America. As the Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, I firmly believe that we can work with the Small Business Administration (SBA) to cultivate and expand existing child care facilities. In light of this, I rise today to introduce the Child Care Lending Pilot Act of 2006, which establishes a three-year pilot program enabling small, non-profit child care businesses to be eligible for the SBA's 504 loans.…”