James Oberstar: “I commend Economic Development Subcommittee Chairman Franks for his interest in safety at childcare centers, and…”

“I commend Economic Development Subcommittee Chairman Franks for his interest in safety at childcare centers, and especially his interest in stopping the terrible destruction and injury caused by flying glass. The General Services Administration (GSA) childcare program is a very successful program, with 85 percent of its childcare centers accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Approximately 7,000 youngsters, ranging in age from infancy to 5 years old, are enrolled in GSA childcare centers located in 113 Federal facilities across the country. H.R. 4519 will ensure that parents of children in GSA childcare centers have the best available information regarding the tenants at these Federal facilities. H.R. 4519 instructs GSA to notify parents before they enroll their children in a childcare center located in a Federal building of the current Federal agencies occupying the building and the level of security of that particular Federal building. It also requires GSA to notify parents of any change in the Federal tenants in the building. This bill will ensure that this information is readily available to parents. The short title for this bill is 'Baylee's Law'. It is named for Baylee Almon, a one-year-old child attending the childcare center located in the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City at the bombing in 1995. She and fourteen other small children were killed in that tragic incident. I urge all Members to support this bill.”