Anthony Dejuan Boatwright Act

Floor Speech

Date: June 2, 2009
Location: Washington, DC


Anthony Dejuan Boatwright Act

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. TONKO. I yield myself as much time, Mr. Speaker, as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1662, which amends the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to require child care providers to provide information regarding whether such providers carry current liability insurance. Working parents depend on child care so they can earn an income needed to support their families, as well as ensure that their children are well cared for in a safe environment while they are working. As such, child care is an integral part of the daily routine for millions of American families with young children.

Nearly 12 million children under 5 years of age are regularly in child care settings. Research clearly shows us that high quality child care has a lasting impact on a child's development and well-being. Children in poor quality child care miss a crucial early learning opportunity and are more likely to arrive at kindergarten unprepared and unable to succeed in school. As a country, we need to be doing much more to invest in and support high quality child care programs so that children have the best opportunity to develop.

Back in 2001, Anthony DeJuan Boatwright's mother, Jacqueline Boatwright, placed her child in child care so that she could work to improve her and her son's life. She understood the child care program market. She shopped around and found a child care center. It was licensed by the State. It was clean, and it complied with Federal regulations under the Child Care Development Block Grant Act governing such items as the prevention and control of infectious diseases, building safety, premises access, and safety training for staff. However, little Anthony nearly drowned and ended up on life support due to an oversight at the child day care center.

Jackie Boatwright did not know that a child care program could take her money, harm her child, and escape punishment for their dire mistake.

Because the childcare center had no liability insurance, the facility could not be financially responsible for any harm they could do. There wasn't a law, State or Federal, that required childcare centers to tell Ms. Boatwright either.

The bill before us makes a small but, indeed, important amendment to current law. This bill would require each provider to openly post whether or not they have current liability insurance covering the operation of the childcare business, and it requires each provider to supply parents with a written notice stating whether or not the provider carries liability insurance, including the amount of such coverage.

This legislation does not supersede any State regulations regarding facility licensure or insurance requirements. We are simply asking childcare providers to inform parents whether or not they hold liability insurance.

As we move forward reauthorizing this program, we must consider policies that foster effective learning environments where children can obtain the cognitive, the social and the academic skills needed to succeed. And we must make sure that parents can feel secure in the knowledge that their children will be safe from harm while out of their care.

This bill gives parents more information that they need to make educated decisions about daycare facilities. We must provide safe childcare programs for our children.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward