Susan Davis: “I oppose this rule for the simple reason that I believe in the process of representative government. The public quite…”

“I oppose this rule for the simple reason that I believe in the process of representative government. The public quite rightly believes that, as their representatives, we take part in the process of legislation by offering meaningful amendments to the bills before us and that all of the representatives of this body will have an opportunity to consider and vote those amendments up or down. This is simply not the case. As a member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, I had the opportunity to speak and vote in support of extending the loan forgiveness provisions contained in this bill to Head Start Teachers. While that amendment failed in the committee on partisan lines, I believe it is such an important companion provision that all of the members of this Congress should have had the opportunity to vote on this issue. In the Head Start reauthorization bill, which may be on the floor next week, the committee has included a requirement that 50 percent of Head Start teachers have a Bachelor's Degree and all of them to have an Associates Degree or equivalent certificate. Many of these teachers will need additional coursework. Historically, many Head Start personnel have been recruited from the parent body, who are, by definition, low income. Because pay for personnel in Head Start is so low, it is imperative that we support this mandate financially. A loan forgiveness provision for Head Start personnel would match that for other critically needed teachers.”