Jolene Unsoeld: “I want to compliment the chairman, the chairman of the subcommittee, and the ranking member of the Committee on…”

“I want to compliment the chairman, the chairman of the subcommittee, and the ranking member of the Committee on Education and Labor. This is a super bill, and I rise to give it all the support I have. I am so delighted with the administration, with President Clinton, for making an emphasis for Head Start, and particularly the birth to 3-years-of-age. Last month I held forums in my district on early childhood education and violence prevention. The overwhelming testimony expressed by expert panelists and attendees alike was that antisocial behavior begins from failed human relations at a very early age, when conscience and compassion have not been taught. We must help families with young children and more must be done to help children and families avoid the problems that lead our youth to gangs, drugs, and senseless violence. If we assist struggling families with young children, we help all families and all children. Parents will be given the opportunity to interact with other parents, learn more about basic child development, positive discipline techniques, and parent-child communication skills. The foundation of antisocial behavior is laid in those very early years of childhood so it is not only wise to invest in children and families, it is incumbent on us as elected officials to do so.”