Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, 54 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson launched Head Start as part of the War on Poverty, a historic effort to build a more just, equal America. Today, Head Start serves children across my community, including more than 70 children in SafeStart, a program in my district designed for children of parents who struggle with substance abuse that has been recognized as a national model. Across our country, over 30 million children have participated in Head Start since its founding. We have felt the benefits throughout our society. Study after study has shown how pivotal early childhood education is for positioning children to fulfill their potential later on. Despite its record of success, Head Start is severely underfunded today. In my home State of Pennsylvania, only 27 percent of eligible children are able to get a slot in a Head Start program. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join me in pledging to fight to get increased funding for Head Start signed into law so that we renew our commitment to its promise of a future where every child in every ZIP Code can live a life of opportunity. ____________________”