Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 4250, which reauthorizes--and in some key ways reinvents--the Head Start Program. I want to touch briefly on several of those key improvements, but I also want to say a few words about the challenges that remain if Head Start is to live up to its potential. I would just like to mention, too, that those of us on the Labor- Health Appropriations Subcommittee have been working to encourage many of these needed changes and clarifications in the Head Start statute, and we're gratified to see them in H.R. 4250. For example, allocating expansion funds for quality improvement is a priority we have been advocating for a number of years now. H.R. 4250 clarifies that at least 25 percent of any expansion funds must be used for quality improvement. It also requires the upgrading of qualifications for Head Start staff. This bill breaks new ground by authorizing a new component of Head Start focused on children from infancy to 3 years old, which are vital developmental years. I am also pleased to see that H.R. 4250 encourages full day, full year Head Start programs; this option is crucial for many working parents, and a boon to the children as well.”