James M. Jeffords: “I rise today to discuss the Snowe-Dodd amendment to add $6 billion more in child care funding to the welfare bill that…”

“I rise today to discuss the Snowe-Dodd amendment to add $6 billion more in child care funding to the welfare bill that is before the Senate. There is no issue more important than child care assistance in the context of this reauthorization. I commend Senators Snowe and Dodd for their leadership on this issue. Child care assistance is critical for a number of reasons. First, there is a strong connection between access to child care and the ability of parents to join and stay in the workforce. Second, quality child care is critical to building the foundations for school readiness and later academic success. Third, states are facing tough economic times and they are cutting back on support for child care. Our children need additional help from the Federal Government. Child care is the No. 1 issue facing families today. Seventy-five percent of American children under the age of five spend at least part of their day in child care. In Vermont, over 80 percent of women with children under the age of six are in the workforce. Without access to child care, these families are often forced to leave their employment and seek public assistance. We must support additional child care funding in order to support low-income parents and help them remain in the workforce. Quality child care helps lay the groundwork for school readiness and success later in life. We know that the most crucial time for a child's brain development is from birth to 5 years old.”