Rick Lazio: “the Lazio-Gilman-Tauscher amendment will address a matter of dire importance to American families, the need for…”

“the Lazio-Gilman-Tauscher amendment will address a matter of dire importance to American families, the need for high-quality child care. As a parent of two, I know how difficult it is to leave our children in the care of others. While most of us agree that a parent would provide the best care for a young child, many of our young families simply do not have the option of doing so. Today in America, more and more parents work outside the home. In fact, 62 percent of moms with children under 6 are in the work force. While we fight to reduce the tax burden that forces families into this economic situation, we need to assure the parents who must work that their children will be taken care of by qualified, competent individuals. We know that parents want the best for their children. They want to know that if their children cannot be at home, they are in a healthy and nurturing environment. Today, 13 million children under the age of 6 are in child care programs. For these children the care and attention that they receive from child care staff is critical. When children have stable and caring educators, they feel secure and are ready to learn. A study by the National Institutes of Health shows that staff-child ratio and teacher education contribute to the quality of a child care program. Children in quality facilities have fewer behavioral problems, stronger language ability, and a higher level of school readiness.”