Rob Andrews: “we support Head Start, and we support constructive changes to Head Start. We must oppose this bill because of two very…”

“we support Head Start, and we support constructive changes to Head Start. We must oppose this bill because of two very destructive changes. The majority says there are 600,000 children eligible for Head Start who, today, do not get Head Start. They do change that. They increase the number of children eligible who will not get funded. About 10,000 more children by the end of this bill who are eligible for Head Start will not be. The second change is even more odious. There is an understanding in this country that if a church or religious organization runs a preschool program and someone who is not a member of that religious organization comes and applies for a teaching job to teach mathematics or reading or other skills that under present law they cannot deny that person a job because they do not go to their church or their religious organization. This bill changes that law. It violates that principle. It is wrong. It is divisive. It is destructive. It is unconstitutional. There are a lot of good reasons to oppose this bill; but ripping us asunder, giving employers the right not to hire people because of where they worship is just plain wrong, and so is this bill.”