Millions of working parents depend on child care and assume certain safety requirements are already in place for their children, but standards vary widely across the states.  Many states do not enforce even basic standards such as fingerprinting, background checks and first aid training for providers. This puts our children at risk.

“Many children already benefit from the excellent care of high-quality child care providers who are meeting or exceeding the proposed requirements,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.  “However, too many children remain in settings that do not meet minimum standards of health and safety. These basic rules ensure that providers take necessary basic steps to shield children from an avoidable tragedy.”

The proposed rule would only apply directly to child care providers who accept Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) funds. More than 500,000 providers serve about 1.6 million low-income children through CCDF. Many more children would benefit, however, because the providers also serve non-CCDF children.

Under the proposed rule, states would require that all CCDF-funded child care providers:

•  Receive health and safety trainings in specific areas
•  Comply with applicable state and local fire, health and building codes
•  Receive comprehensive background checks (including fingerprinting)
•  Receive on-site monitoring

The rule would also require states to share information with parents through user-friendly websites about provider health, safety and licensing information. While some states already post health and safety reports online, the new rule would bring all states up to this standard.

“Parents know the needs of their own children,” said Shannon Rudisill, director of the Office of Child Care. “However, parents don’t always have enough information to help them make the right choice when choosing a child care provider. This proposal would give parents the necessary tools to choose quality care that fully meets their needs.”

While the proposed rule establishes new minimum standards, it also recognizes the need for innovation and flexibility and allows states and communities to tailor their specific approaches to best meet the needs of the children and families they serve.  The rule would not change or impede a state’s ability to license child care providers as they see fit.

The administration continues to work with Congress to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which was last reauthorized in 1996.  This rule does not take the place of reauthorization, but rather proposes long overdue reforms to better ensure that low-income working families have access to safe, high-quality child care that is essential for healthy early childhood development.

HHS is requesting the public’s input on this proposed regulation. The comment process, which lasts for 75 days, allows for feedback on the proposed rule.

The proposed rule will be on public display today at www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection.  Once it is published in the Federal Register, the public can view it and submit comment at: www.regulations.gov.

For more information about HHS’ child care programs, please visit www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/occ.

A recent survey by Republican pollster Mark Blankenship found that Governor Tomblin is riding a remarkable crest of popularity.

Tomblin’s job approval rating is at 69%, unchanged from March.  That’s higher than Senator Joe Manchin (63%) and Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (54%).

Perhaps more importantly, voters don’t blame Tomblin for the state’s economic problems, and the Governor can thank President Obama for that.  When asked who is most responsible for job losses in West Virginia, nearly half said the President.  Fifteen percent said the West Virginia Legislature, ten percent said Congress and only three percent blamed Tomblin.

That’s amazing, especially since West Virginia has lost jobs over the last year and Republicans criticized Tomblin and the Democratic majorities in both houses for not doing more this past session for job creation.

So, Tomblin has this bank of political capital.  What’s he going to do with it?

One challenge for the Governor is to figure out a way West Virginia can take full advantage of the enormous Marcellus Shale reserves.  The gas boom has cooled a bit because of over-supply and the drop in prices, but West Virginia is going to be pumping gas for years to come.

The key to maximizing the economic benefit to the state is to make sure that industries that use natural gas as a feedstock locate here.  How do we do that?  Tax reform?  Tort reform?  A better infrastructure for natural gas shipping and storage?

The state has made progress on the tax front in recent years with the lowering of the corporate net and the elimination of the business franchise tax, but there is still work to be done.  West Virginia has an onerous personal property tax on the inventory machinery and equipment of a business that could be eliminated (Republicans have been pushing for that).

Tomblin could tackle the state’s crumbling roads and bridges.  The state’s gas tax no longer keeps up with highway construction and repair needs.  Taxes and/or fees would have to be raised.  Tomblin may be reluctant to go there, especially in 2014 since many Democrats, who are most likely to support an increase, will be up for re-election.

The Governor will also face pressure next legislative session to raise teacher salaries.  The teacher unions believe they are due, especially after they compromised on the Governor’s major education reform legislation this year.

The trick will be finding money for a raise, while also paying the rest of the state’s bills, including rising Medicaid costs.  Tomblin has kept in his back pocket a cigarette tax increase.  West Virginia’s per pack tax (55 cents) is among the lowest in the nation, and sin taxes are usually the easiest to raise.

Tomblin had a couple of significant accomplishments in the last session, including education reform and a new law to relieve prison overcrowding.  He has an opportunity to do more, but that window will close quickly.

Next year, politics will play an even bigger role under the capitol dome because it will be an election year and Republicans believe they have a chance to take over the House of Delegates.

And it won’t be long afterward that lawmakers will begin to see Tomblin, who cannot run again in 2016, as a lame duck.