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Washington, D.C.?The leader of the nation's largest independent union of federal employees said today she is "in agreement with the thrust" of proposed federal regulations implementing legislation allowing agencies to use appropriated funds to help lower?paid government employees afford child care.

President Colleen M. Kelley of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) said "enactment of legislation permitting agencies to use their appropriated funds to help subsidize child care expenses for federal workers represented a major victory for NTEU."

Kelley, who pointed out that more affordable child care for federal employees was one of NTEU's legislative priorities in this Congress, said she is anxious to begin negotiations with agencies so that federal employees can begin to receive these subsidies. "I'm pleased that OPM's proposed rule allows for maximum flexibility" for agencies in deciding how to construct basic child care tuition assistance programs.

NTEU represents some 155,000 employees in 24 agencies and departments. It has long pursued more affordable child care for federal employees, arguing that high costs prevent many federal employees from using child care facilities operated in the buildings where they work. "That's an intolerable situation we've been working hard to eliminate," Kelley said

She called this "an excellent opportunity for agencies to do something to make the workplace much more family?friendly for a lot of people," and said NTEU "intends to make our voices heard in the collective bargaining process to ensure that each agency's program fits the needs of eligible employees."

NTEU will begin negotiating with individual agencies as soon as the regulations become final.