Dan Coats: “I am pleased today to join Senators Kennedy, Dodd, and Kassebaum in recommending passage of S. 2000. Few Federal…”

“I am pleased today to join Senators Kennedy, Dodd, and Kassebaum in recommending passage of S. 2000. Few Federal programs engender the feelings of good will and bipartisanship as do the programs we are discussing today. Head Start, CSBG, LIHEAP, the Community Food and Nutrition Program--these programs all have one important thing in common--they represent the Federal Government at its best, forging public and private partnerships, and unleashing the vast resources of one of our most important assets--the local community. S. 2000 represents months of effort and cooperation, aimed at not only simply reauthorizing these important programs, but consolidating and streamlining the programs as well. This bill builds on an already successful Head Start Program by: First, continuing to place strong emphasis on quality by authorizing a minimum of 25 percent of new funds for quality enhancement efforts. Second, allowing Head Start agencies to more effectively respond to community needs by offering full day, full year services to their working families. Third, launching a broad new family-centered initiative to provide valuable services and support to low-income families and their children under the age of 3. In order to insure that quality is protected, S. 2000 requires the Secretary to convene a panel of experts to make recommendations about the goals and guidelines for such a program before significant Federal dollars are committed to it.”