THE HOUSE

Child Care

By a vote of 265 to 145, the House sent to conference with the Senate a bill (HR 3) expanding federal programs to help parents of limited means obtain day care for their children, at a cost of $27 billion over five years. More than half of the cost derives from earned income tax credits for families earning up to $20,270 annually.

The bill funds school-based programs for “latchkey” children, as well as state efforts to upgrade the safety and quality of supervision at child-care centers in public, private and religious settings. It turns Head Start into an all-day occupation for preschoolers.

Members voting yes supported the bill.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Anderson (D) x Rep. Dornan (R) x Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Dymally (D) x Rep. Hawkins (D) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x

GOP Child-Care Substitute

By a vote of 195 to 225, the House rejected a Republican child-care substitute that was backed by the White House. Its cost of $20 billion was about $7 billion less than that of the Democratic bill (above). Another key difference was that it gave states more leeway in setting child-care standards.

Sponsor E. Clay Shaw Jr. (R-Fla.) said that with the Democratic bill “we are sticking our noses so far into the affairs of states, it’s unbelievable.” Opponent Michael A. Andrews (D-Tex.) said Congress sets standards “for airlines, for nursing homes, even for animals.”

Members voting yes supported the GOP substitute.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Anderson (D) x Rep. Dornan (R) x Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Dymally (D) x Rep. Hawkins (D) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x

New Cabinet Department

By a vote of 161 to 266, the House rejected a White House-backed amendment limiting the scope of a new Cabinet-level Department of Environmental Protection. The House then sent the bill (HR 3847) to the Senate by a wide margin.

The amendment sought to kill language subjecting federal polluters to the same hazardous waste laws that apply to private firms. It also attempted to put under White House control a new bureau set up to increase public access to data on pollution, and to eliminate other areas where the Cabinet department would wield more power than the EPA now has.

Members voting yes wanted to limit the scope of the new department.

How They Voted Yea Nay No vote Rep. Anderson (D) x Rep. Dornan (R) x Rep. Dreier (R) x Rep. Dymally (D) x Rep. Hawkins (D) x Rep. Martinez (D) x Rep. Torres (D) x