H*5305 Resolution, By J.E. Smith, Allen, Allison, Altman, Askins, Bales, 
Barfield, Barrett, Battle, Bingham, Bowers, Breeland, G. Brown, J. Brown, 
R. Brown, Campsen, Carnell, Cato, Chellis, Clyburn, Coates, Cobb-Hunter, 
Coleman, Cooper, Cotty, Dantzler, Davenport, Delleney, Easterday, Edge, Emory, 
Fleming, Freeman, Frye, Gilham, Gourdine, Govan, Hamilton, Harrell, Harrison, 
Harvin, Haskins, Hayes, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Hosey, Howard, Huggins, 
Jennings, Keegan, Kelley, Kennedy, Kirsh, Klauber, Koon, Law, Leach, Lee, 
Limehouse, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Lourie, Lucas, Mack, Martin, McCraw, 
McGee, McLeod, Meacham-Richardson, Merrill, Miller, Moody-Lawrence, J.H. Neal, 
J.M. Neal, Neilson, Ott, D. Owens, Parks, Perry, Phillips, Quinn, Rhoad, Rice, 
Riser, Rivers, Rodgers, Rutherford, Sandifer, Scarborough, Scott, Sharpe, 
Sheheen, Simrill, Sinclair, D.C. Smith, F.N. Smith, G.M. Smith, J.R. Smith, 
W.D. Smith, Snow, Stille, Stuart, Talley, Taylor, Thompson, Townsend, Tripp, 
Trotter, Vaughn, Walker, Webb, Weeks, Whatley, Whipper, White, Wilder, Wilkins, 
Witherspoon, A. Young and J. Young
 A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO PROCLAIM MAY 2002, AS LICENSED CHILDCARE MONTH AND MAY
 10, 2002, AS PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY.

   05/21/02  House  Introduced and adopted HJ-21

TO PROCLAIM MAY, 2002, AS LICENSED CHILDCARE MONTH AND MAY 10, 2002, AS PROVIDER APPRECIATION DAY.

Whereas, quality childcare programs are essential to the development of our young people into productive citizens and future leaders; and

Whereas, for many children, childcare providers offer and maintain the child's first learning environment outside of the home; and

Whereas, of the twenty-one million children in America under the age of six, approximately thirteen million are in childcare at least part time and an additional twenty-four million school-age children are in some form of after-school care; and

Whereas, sixty-one percent of children under the age of six in South Carolina have working parents who rely on others to provide childcare and education; and

Whereas, there are some three thousand six hundred licensed childcare centers and family childcare facilities operating in our State, caring for and educating an estimated one hundred eighty-eight thousand South Carolina children; and

Whereas, licensed South Carolina childcare facilities employ more than thirteen thousand five hundred childcare professionals and generate more than three hundred fifty million dollars in business revenue for our State; and

Whereas, licensed childcare professionals throughout the Palmetto State are committed to providing nurturing learning environments that help children develop self-esteem, discipline, resourcefulness, respect, and responsibility; and

Whereas, the annual celebrations of "Licensed Childcare Month" and "Provider Appreciation Day" are dedicated to raising awareness of the commitment of childcare professionals throughout South Carolina and the nation to the health and safety of the children in their care. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, do hereby proclaim May, 2002, as "Licensed Childcare Month" and May 10, 2002, as "Provider Appreciation Day" throughout the State and encourage all South Carolinians to recognize the benefits quality childcare environments and professionals provide in preparing our young people for a bright and happy future.