Tom Harkin: “I am pleased to support the Human Services Reauthorization of 1994. I would like to recognize the Senator Kennedy for…”

“I am pleased to support the Human Services Reauthorization of 1994. I would like to recognize the Senator Kennedy for his strong leadership in forging this bipartisan legislation. This bill reauthorizes three very important human service programs-- Head Start, the Community Services Block Grant and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The first national education goal states that by the year 2000, all children will start school ready to learn. I have spoken on many occasions about the importance of this goal. It is the cornerstone on which we build and reaching it is vital to our efforts to improve student achievement in our Nation. Head Start plays an important role in our ability to reach this very important goal. I have been a strong and consistent supporter of the Head Start program. When questions were raised last year about the quality of the program, I shared the concerns and welcomed the questions. We must always be willing to debate the merits of federal programs to make sure that our tax money is well spent. In the case of Head Start, I believe the investments in our children yield big dividends and am very pleased that this legislation addressed the concerns about the quality of Head Start programs. The bill significantly strengthens the program and reaffirms our commitment to ensuring a strong Head Start Program through the end of this century.”