House panel approves child care bills

Federal employees would get access to less expensive, higher quality care services under two bills approved Wednesday by the House Government Reform Committee.

The committee endorsed H.R. 28, sponsored by Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman, R-N.Y., which requires federal child care centers to match state and local requirements for health, safety and facility standards. Under the bill, federal child care centers would have to meet accreditation standards to operate, and all existing and newly hired workers in federal centers would have to undergo criminal history background checks.

The committee also approved a separate bill, H.R. 206, introduced by Rep. Connie Morella, R-Md., that would allow agencies to use appropriated funds to subsidize child care for federal employees, particularly lower-grade workers.

The committee also approved the following other pieces of legislation Wednesday:

• H.R. 1074, known as the Regulatory Right-to-Know Act, sponsored by Rep. Tom Bliley, R-Va. The bill would provide for a governmentwide accounting of regulatory costs and benefits, and would require the government to list the costs to the private sector of regulations approved by agencies each year.
• H.R. 457, the Organ Donor Leave Act, which would provide employees with 30 days of leave for organ or tissue donations. Under current law, employees are allowed seven days of leave to donate bone marrow or organs.
• H.R. 1442, the Law Enforcement and Public Safety Enhancement Act, allowing transfers of federal property to state and local law enforcement, public safety and emergency services agencies.