It's also the environment that determines a considerable part of the growth and development of children.

I don't think child care is ever going to be much of a federal effort. Just like education. Six or 7 percent - that's all I want from the government. Pay that piece of it for poor or developmentally disabled children.

We have to stop harming children in child care. I'm trying to make us stop. I wouldn't know what to do otherwise.

Most mothers and fathers will shop more for a TV set than they will for a child care center for their child.

Kids do better, frankly [when the economy is strong]. Jobs make great years for kids.

I teach child development and social policy as an undergraduate course, and I tell my students, "Look, on any of these issues, if you don't want to work on it for thirty years, don't start."

The problem in child care, which really all of us are going to have to think hard on, is that there is no really great solution that we can come up with for ages zero to three.