This paper reviews the history leading up to the presentation of the Comprehensive Child Development Act of 1971, its passage in Congress, and the reasons it was ultimately vetoed. The Act, commonly known as Mondale-Brademas, was designed to establish a comprehensive system of child care. The welfare situation was an important part of the history of the act, since child-care legislation would alleviate welfare problems by allowing mothers to work and by providing quality care for children. Another historical impact on the bill was the civil rights movement and the 1960's social clamor to provide services to disadvantaged minorities. The bill passed the senate hearings, but was intensely debated in the House of Representatives where it was amended (The Perkins Amendment). The amendment cut the minimum prime sponsor level from 100,000 to 10,000. It was backed by a coalition of liberals, those with a history in the categorical problems of the 1960's and those from rural states. At this point the bill lost the support of many who were in favor of comprehensive child care. President Richard Nixon vetoed the bill. Some of the reasons why the bill died included politics, power, funding, and morality issues. (Author/AM)