David Durenberger: “I have a long history of support for Head Start. In 1990, I was a cosponsor of the Head Start reauthorization bill and…”

“I have a long history of support for Head Start. In 1990, I was a cosponsor of the Head Start reauthorization bill and in 1991, legislation to make Head Start an entitlement program. It is difficult to find another Federal program which has been so universally acknowledged as being as successful in its goals to improve the prospects of underprivileged children. I have long recognized the benefits at-risk children receive from this program. Today, we have both bipartisan support in Congress and the President's backing to improve and expand the already successful Head Start Program. I believe this legislation is a big step toward achieving this goal, and I commend the effective leadership of Senators Kennedy, Dodd, and Kassebaum for their efforts. To realize the importance of Head Start, we must only look at the first goal of the bipartisan Goals 2000, passed earlier this year, which states that all children must start school ready to learn. Head Start provides children from low-income families with the skills and self-confidence necessary to begin school.”