I 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 7001 
To amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to 
improve access to high-quality early learning and child care for low- 
income children and working families, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 23, 2008 
Ms. BALDWIN introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on 
Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the 
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within 
the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
Act of 1990 to improve access to high-quality early learn-
ing and child care for low-income children and working 
families, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Starting Early Start-
ing Right Act’’. 
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress makes the following find-
ings: 
(1) Children in child care learn and develop 
skills they need to succeed in school and in life. 
Child care is also fundamental to helping families 
get ahead by giving parents the support and peace 
of mind they need to be productive at work. 
(2) Child care teachers and providers carry the 
responsibility of providing a safe, nurturing, and 
stimulating setting for children entrusted to them 
each day. 
(3) In 2006, the average wage for a child care 
worker was $9.05 per hour or $18,820 annually. For 
full-time, full-year work this is only slightly above 
the 2006 poverty guidelines of $16,600 for a mother 
with 2 children. 
(4) As a result of low wages and limited bene-
fits, many child care providers do not work for long 
periods in the child care field. Only 65 percent of 
those employed in the child care field in 2005 were 
still working in child care in 2006. Such high turn-
over rates deny children consistent and stable rela-
tionships with their teachers. 
(5) Current reimbursement rates for child care 
providers receiving Federal funds are insufficient to 
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recruit and retain qualified child care providers and 
to ensure high-quality early care and education serv-
ices for children. 
(6) Research shows that high-quality child care 
helps low-income children enter school ready to suc-
ceed. One study found that children who had en-
rolled in high-quality child care demonstrated great-
er mathematical ability and thinking and attention 
skills, and experienced fewer behavior problems than 
other children in second grade. Effects were particu-
larly strong for low-income children. 
(7) Millions of low-income children could benefit 
from high-quality child care. In 2007, 10,500,000 
children under age 6 (43 percent) lived in low-in-
come families (families with incomes below 200 per-
cent of poverty). 
(8) Inadequate funding has reduced the number 
of children with access to child care. Only about 1 
in 7 eligible children receives Federal child care as-
sistance. 
(9) Many women work in low-wage jobs and 
cannot cover the cost of child care. For example, 
two-thirds of working poor families headed by single 
mothers who paid for child care spent at least 40 
percent of their cash income on child care. 
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(10) Problems with child care can make it dif-
ficult for parents, particularly low-income parents, to 
work, causing them to lose wages, be denied a pro-
motion, or lose their jobs. 
(11) Research shows that single mothers and 
former welfare recipients who received child care as-
sistance were much more likely to remain employed 
after 2 years than those who did not receive child 
care assistance. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to im-
prove— 
(1) access to high-quality early learning and 
child care for low-income children and working fami-
lies; and 
(2) the quality of child care and the number of 
high-quality child care providers. 
SEC. 3. AMENDMENTS TO THE CHILD CARE AND DEVELOP-
MENT BLOCK GRANT ACT OF 1990. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.—Section 658C 
of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 
1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858a) is amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 658C. ESTABLISHMENT OF BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM 
AND OFFICE OF CHILD CARE. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary is authorized to 
make grants to States in accordance with the provisions 
of this subchapter. 
‘‘(b) OFFICE OF CHILD CARE.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be established 
within the Administration for Children and Families, 
an Office of Child Care to serve as the principal ad-
visor to the Assistant Secretary for Children and 
Families on issues regarding State funded child care 
programs. 
‘‘(2) PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Office 
of Child Care shall have primary responsibility for 
the operation of all child care programs authorized 
or funded under part A of title IV of the Social Se-
curity Act. 
‘‘(3) ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Of-
fice of Child Care shall have the following respon-
sibilities: 
‘‘(A) Developing legislative, regulatory, and 
budgetary proposals for the Secretary. 
‘‘(B) Presenting operational planning ob-
jectives and initiatives related to child care to 
the Secretary. 
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‘‘(C) Overseeing the progress of approved 
activities. 
‘‘(D) Providing leadership and coordina-
tion for child care, early childhood development, 
and school-age programs within the Administra-
tion for Children and Families. 
‘‘(E) Providing leadership and linkages 
with other agencies on child care issues includ-
ing agencies within the Department of Health 
and Human Services, relevant agencies across 
the Federal, State, local governments and tribal 
governments, and non-government organiza-
tions at the Federal, State and local levels.’’. 
(b) APPLICATION AND PLAN.—Section 658E(c) of 
the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 
(42 U.S.C. 9858c(c)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (E)— 
(i) redesignating clause (ii) as clause 
(iii); and 
(ii) by inserting after clause (i), the 
following: 
‘‘(ii) SITE
VISITS.—Certify that the 
State has in effect licensing requirements 
applicable to child care providers within 
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