On the recordMarch 3, 2011
On Monday, I met with parents of young children in Davie, Florida, in my district who attend early childhood education classes at Crayons Child Care. We spoke about how vital early education is in the development of young children; how early education increases high school graduation rates; how 50 years of solid research has shown that early childhood education reduces crimes and delinquency and yields up to a $7 return on every dollar invested. Unfortunately, though, with the passage of H.R. 1 just over a week ago, this body made the largest cut to education in our Nation's history. Now, we all understand that our Nation needs to cut spending; but the society that balances its budgets on the back of its children should not be surprised when the spine of its future is broken. These children are 2, 3, and 4 years old, but the response from Republicans in the House of Representatives is that they would pay for it. That just doesn't make sense. It is morally wrong.
