"Long Island families with children need all the tax relief they can get! Day in and day out working families are on the go, and that means their children have to be on the go as well. Today, we are experiencing a child-care crisis and I have a bill that will help solve this problem.

I have teamed up with my colleague, Republican Congressman Ben Gilman from Rockland County to introduce our bipartisan bill, H.R. 253, the "Tax Relief for Families with Children Act." This bill provides a much-needed boost to parents.

Here are the many ways Long Island families will benefit:

* The Child Tax Credit is increased from $500 a year to $900 a year.

* Long Islanders with children under the age of 12 or who have dependents will receive more money for day care. The Dependent Care Tax Credit will be increased from $2400 to $3,600 for one dependent and from $4,800 to $6,00 for two or more dependents.

* Increases the amount the Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCA) gives to those families who can't afford day care. The increase is $7,000, up from $5,000, per year for two or more dependents.

* Allows the use of DCA funds to pay a spouse or grandparent to care for a pre-school child at home.

* Permits parents to choose for each dependent child between the Child Tax Credit, Dependent Care Tax Credit and the DCA.

I want to help Long Island families have the peace of mind that their children are safe and cared for while their families are at work.

Tax cuts are important to us here on Long Island. We're always looking for ways to cut corners, and get back what we put into the government. This bill provides tax benefits for children without compromising care. I really believe my bipartisan bill will go a long way toward giving Long Island parents much needed help."