Bill would make child care subsidy program permanent

A pilot program that allows agencies to help qualified federal employees pay for child care would become permanent under a bill introduced Wednesday in the Senate. Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo., introduced legislation (S. 1286) that would make permanent agencies' authority to use appropriated funds to help lower-income employees cover the costs of child care in on-site federal facilities or licensed child care centers. "Passing this legislation and making the program permanent is essential to helping this initiative reach its full potential and benefit the maximum number of families it can," Carnahan said. Rep. Connie Morella, R-Md., introduced similar legislation (H.R. 555) in February. The child care subsidy pilot program, which Congress authorized in September 1999, must be extended every year. It was extended in December 2000, and its current legislative authority runs out on Sept. 30.

As of mid-February, more than 815 federal workers at 15 agencies were taking advantage of the subsidy program, with several hundred applications pending approval, according to a report released in April by the Office of Personnel Management. But the report said fewer employees applied for the subsidy than expected because it was a temporary program. Many workers were reluctant to change arrangements for fear they would not be able to afford the child care centers if the subsidy program was canceled. The two largest federal employees' unions, which helped negotiate implementation of the child care subsidy pilot program at agencies such as the Labor Department and the IRS, praised Carnahan's bill. "Her legislation isn't just good for federal employees--it's good for the federal government as well," said Bobby L. Harnage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees. Colleen M. Kelley, president of the National Treasury Employees Union, echoed Harnage's sentiment. "As the nation's largest employer, passage of the Carnahan legislation would strengthen the federal government's ability to attract and retain quality employees by offering a benefit commonly offered by private sector employers," she said.