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Child care in trouble [US]

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Author: 
Opinion
Format: 
Article
Publication Date: 
10 Apr 2004
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EXCERPTS

The government's failure to support child care for low-income families has created an appalling situation in which only 15 percent of the children eligible for federally financed child care actually get it. More than 400,000 children will fall off the rolls over the next five years. This will mean disaster for their families unless the government puts real child care money into welfare reform bills pending in the House and Senate.

The House version contains only $1 billion for child care over five years. The Senate bill contains $6 billion, which would help not just welfare recipients who must now work more hours outside the home, but also low-income families who are struggling to stay out of poverty and off welfare in the first place.

Leaders of both parties have said that the bill could be revived. They will be held accountable if child care falls victim to partisan strife.

- reprinted from The New York Times

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