Senate Passes Bill to Improve Child Care
Schatz Worked with Committee Leaders to Enhance Funding for Native Hawaiian Organizations
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) voted to pass the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014, legislation that will help provide funds for education and child care to low-income families.
“In far too many communities across this nation, a lack of quality early childhood resources places children at risk of falling behind other students from their first days in school,” said Senator Schatz. “I am glad our bipartisan legislation includes measures that will strengthen child care programs and help provide quality care and education to children and families who need it the most.”
Schatz worked with Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Chairman Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pension, to include measures to enhance funding for native child care programs and provide much needed flexibility to address the need for facility renovation and construction of new facilities.
“We must build more opportunities for native children to learn and excel in school and fulfill their true potential and we need to provide tribes and native communities with the tools and support needed to design programs in ways to best serve the needs and circumstances of native children in their communities,” Schatz said.
Schatz’ co-sponsored amendments will:
Help Native Hawaiian organizations upgrade facilities. Schatz cosponsored an amendment that will now allow CCDBG funds to be used to construct and renovate native child care facilities.
Help child care providers go to college. Schatz cosponsored an amendment that will allow funds to be used to help child care staff connect with state or federal financial aid programs to assist them in pursuing higher education.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 2014 updates the original legislation first passed in 1990 to: make it easier for parents access to child care services through a new website; protect children by requiring background checks on child care workers for the first time; and enhance the quality of child care by focusing on training improvements for providers.
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