at least cost to the taxpayer. We don't have significant problems which require a legislative solution. We periodically ask for legislative changes to broaden our operational capability to permit more efficient operations and procedures. We will provide specifics of our legislative program as soon as it is completed.

Mr. ROYBAL. Mr. Wolf.

CHILD CARE PROGRAMS

Mr. WOLF. I want to commend the Chairman too on the question of childcare. It was a new idea and the Chairman was very open to it. It really has been a trend setter. I want to thank the Chairman. Mr. Austin, is there any new authority or resources that Congress can give you, is there anything else that we can do to help to expand this process, particularly for on-site child care?

Mr. AUSTIN. We have developed a program in GSA where we monitor and oversee these operations.

We don't have the statutory authority but in the absence of anybody else addressing themselves to the issue, we are promoting quality through accreditation with the National Association for the Education of Young Children. We are working on developing materials, providing training and technical assistance.

We will probably come to you and our oversight committee, with a proposal, if the administration signs off on it. GSA's new role could be regulatory, oversight and policy setting in terms of operations within the Federal Government.

The most important problem of child care is the cost to the individual. If you look at the demographics far and away the person who tends to use those facilities most often are the GS-9 and above because the individual cost for the GS-5's and GS-7's are out of hand. They just cannot meet those costs. Even in the areas where we are seeing costs significantly lower than what might be in the urbanized metropolitan areas. We have encouraged scholarships, funding from foundations and contributions from the unions, to seek to mitigate costs.

Many corporations have joined the CFC for the purpose of obtaining assistance but we still have a cost problem for the employee. Woe be it if you have two or three children that you need to house in any of these facilities. I am not suggesting a government subsidy to mitigate costs but there has to be a mechanism to reduce costs to the people it is there to serve. I will submit information on child care for the record.

[The information follows:]

CHILD CARE

The most important problem of child care is the complex relationship between affordability, accessibility and quality. The goal of GSA is to address all three components. GSA has an overriding commitment to provide safe, healthy, quality environments for young children.

Local market conditions and the level of income from the fundraising efforts of members of the local Boards of Directors, have produced trends that are not easily generalized. In some cases, only upper-graded employees can access the center; while in other cases, low tuitions and a successful fundraising program may account for greater participation by lower-graded employees. Of concern however, is that lower tuition is generally associated with lower staff salaries and substandard benefit packages. The key is to achieve quality at the same time the affordability issue is being addressed.

Mr. WOLF. I hope you will come to see me about that as well as the authorizing committee.

Mr. AUSTIN. We don't regulate it.

Mr. WOLF. A lot of private sector ones have sliding scales based on ability to pay. This is particularly important for a single parent living on one income. If you can get your people to come by and see me, maybe we can look at some other approach.

If you are a single parent and have two children, a sliding scale or some such mechanism I think would be helpful.

Mr. AUSTIN. We will come up.

Mr. WOLF. I have a number of other questions which I will submit for the record on federal supply service programs.

[The information follows:]

QUESTIONS FOR THE RECORD FROM CONGRESSMAN FRANK R. WOLF

ENERGY EFFICIENT VEHICLES

QUESTION:

In the purchase of Government vehicles, what's the policy with respect to mileage efficiency? energy efficiency of automobiles

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Does GSA take into account the not just for direct federal cost savings but for increased energy efficiency?

ANSWER:

The GSA policy regarding automobile fuel efficiency is set forth in the Federal Property Management Regulations. A copy of the appropriate sections is enclosed.

In summary, GSA has been delegated the responsibility under Executive Order 12375 to ensure that the annual acquisition of vehicles for Federal agencies meets the fleet average fuel economy established by the Department of Transportation. In order to meet these goals, agencies have established controls to screen and manage the orders of their field activities to select the size of vehicle with the highest fuel economy that can still fulfill the job and to balance the requirements for heavier vehicles with lighter, more fuel efficient vehicles.

In order to assist agencies in their planning, a minimum fuel economy is established by GSA each year for each type and size of vehicle. This minimum is selected to be as high as possible while still allowing for competition. This allows an agency to make preliminary calculations knowing that the make awarded the contract will be at least that minimum and could be one or two miles per gallon higher.

A tabulation of the required and achieved fleet average is enclosed. This shows the positive results that have been achieved under the program.

412

'Established by section 502 of the Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act (89 Stat. 902, 15 U.S.C. 2002) and the Secretary of Transportation.

Established by the Secretary of Transportation and mandated by Executive Order 12003 through fiscal year 1981 and by Executive Order 12375 beginning in fiscal year 1982.

Requirements not yet established by the Secretary of Transportation.

31.810- 18.9 (Rounded to nearest 0.1 mpg.)