Martin Meehan: “Mr. Speaker, the Head Start Program is one of the few programs that directly helps children and demonstrably improves…”

“Mr. Speaker, the Head Start Program is one of the few programs that directly helps children and demonstrably improves their chances to live and learn to their full potential. Head Start provides more than just early education. It give poor children a shot at decent health care, nutrition, and social services, at a critical stage in their development. We cannot talk about solving the crime problem, ending welfare dependency, or improving the quality of life for ourselves and our children without addressing the simple fact that our kids need help. Too many children come from disadvantaged backgrounds and will never be able to overcome the barriers they face, unless we help provide them a level playing field. Head Start is one way to give children a chance. Children who are abused, children who do not get adequate medical care, and children who are simply neglected are children who fail in life. Their growing numbers threaten to undermine our economic competitiveness and destroy our social fabric while condemning millions to a lifetime of dysfunction and underachievement. Some people say we should not expand Head Start. I say we should not expand any Government program without thinking about how to make it work better, and that is what this reauthorization does.”