Donnelly: "Legislation Will Help Improve Child Care Programs for Hoosier Families'

Press Release

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly today voted for bipartisan legislation that would reauthorize a law designed to help working American families afford child care. The Child Care Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act of 2014 would make several commonsense changes to a law that has not been reauthorized since 1996. The House-passed bill advanced in the Senate by a vote of 88 to 1 and now goes to President Obama for his signature.

Donnelly said, "Whether moms and dads are going to work, school, or a training program, one of the most important decisions they have to make is who will care for their children. This commonsense legislation will help improve the quality of child care for Hoosier families in need. The reauthorization of the Child Care Development Block Grant Act is an example of what Democrats and Republicans can achieve by working together. Our children deserve access to safe, quality child care services, no matter their family's income level, and this legislation will help ensure the safety and well-being of Hoosier children."

Ann Murtlow, President & CEO of United Way of Central Indiana, said, "We applaud the bipartisan Congressional effort to reauthorize this important legislation in a way that will improve child care quality for our youngest and most vulnerable Hoosiers. This legislation will improve the ability of low-income Hoosiers to attain and maintain self-sufficiency, and we thank Senator Donnelly for his support."

More than 34,200 low-income and at-risk Hoosier children are served each month through child care development funds.

Reforms in the Child Care Development Block Grant Act compromise bill include:

-Strengthening the safety of child care providers by requiring background checks for all individuals who provide child care with the support of this grant, as well as requiring providers to meet state health, safety, and fire standards and undergo additional annual safety inspections;

-Enhancing parental choice for childcare options by providing information on options available from all providers, including faith-based and community-based providers. This would allow parents to choose the child care provider that best fits their family's needs; and

-Allowing states to train child care providers and develop more effective and safer child care services.

In March, Donnelly helped the Senate pass a similar version of the Child Care Development Block Grant Act.

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