Walter Tucker: “I rise today in strong support for the Head Start Act amendments conference report. This conference report not only…”

“I rise today in strong support for the Head Start Act amendments conference report. This conference report not only reauthorizes the very important and successful Head Start Program, it also reauthorizes the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Community Services Block Grant Program, and It consolidates several programs into a new community-based Family Resource Program. While all these programs are important, I want speak for a moment about the Head Start Program. For the past 20 years or so there have been a number of experimental polices and programs intended to address students who are considered to be at-risk. Unfortunately, over half of the minority children in this Nation's large inner city and poor rural school districts are destined to drop out of school because they are not adequately prepared to begin their education. One of the major obstacles preventing inner city children from success in achieving their educational goals is the pervasive poverty in their communities that they must deal with every day. Head Start, a program that was developed in the 1960's when the Federal Government declared its ``war on poverty'' addresses this issue directly. The program provides services in comprehensive early childhood development, education, health, nutrition, and other related social services to preschool children and their families.…”