Kirk Watson: “I rise to speak about how H.R. 2210 will dismantle Head Start and take thousands of beloved Head Start teachers from the…”

“I rise to speak about how H.R. 2210 will dismantle Head Start and take thousands of beloved Head Start teachers from the children who depend on them so greatly. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 2210, the wrongheaded Republican Head Start Bill that represents an unprecedented attack on our federal preschool system. I want to bring to your attention two important reports that were released this week by the Government Reform Committee of which I sit on, one commissioned by members representing Los Angeles area, and one by the congressional Black Caucus. Both of which demonstrate that H.R. 2210 is detached from reality and does little to address the programs' existing challenges. The reports released by the Government Reform Committee track the success of current Head Start program. They tracked studies that showed how Head Start children are more likely to receive medical services than other low-income children, and they are less likely to repeat a grade, require special education, or be convicted of a crime. Head Start children are also more likely to graduate from high school and college, and that the program narrows the performance gap between disadvantaged children and other children in vocabulary, writing skills, and social behavior. So why is this Administration trying to dismantle a successful and popular 40-year old program?”