Lynn C. Woolsey: “I want to thank Chairman Kildee and Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon, who was the Chair when we were working on…”

“I want to thank Chairman Kildee and Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon, who was the Chair when we were working on this, and Ranking Member Castle for a bipartisan success. We can be proud of ourselves today. Anyone who has been around small children knows that they're sponges for information, they just sop it up if you make it available to them. And it's widely accepted that early childhood education is absolutely critical to their development and directly tied to their success when they get into school, elementary school, and their ongoing future. So getting children in a structured classroom environment earlier in their young lives provides a critical window of opportunity. Head Start provides our Nation's poorest children with a quality start that puts them on a level playing field with others when they start elementary school. No matter where a child comes from or what his or her background is, Head Start provides an equal opportunity to succeed by starting with a quality early childhood education. That's why I'm glad I'm here today as we authorize Head Start, reaffirming our commitment to this valuable program. This bill expands access to Head Start, it improves teacher and classroom quality, and it strengthens the services children and their families receive when they enroll in the program. The administration, however, can and should do better when it comes to funding.”