United States · Amendment · HAMDT

HAMDT 401 (101st)

An amendment in the nature of a substitute to authorize additional funds for Head Start but to permit only 50% of those funds to be used to expand Head Start into a full-day, year-round program. The amendment does not authorize a separate program to provide school-based day care for pre-schoolers and for school aged children before and after school, and does not contain provisions to require states to develop standards that assure the quality of day care. The amendment does provide $2.25 billion in additional funds overfive years for the Title XX block grant program, and earmarks these funds for child care. The amendment also increases the Earned Income Tax Credit, adjusts it for family size, but adds an additional credit for families with infants. It makes the federal excise tax on telephones permanent and phases out the Dependent Care Tax Credit for upper income families. Finally, the substitute exempts earnings derived from performing child care services by individuals 65 or older from the Social Security excess earnings test.