[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 21 (Thursday, February 2, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           SUPPORT HEAD START

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from California [Ms. Waters] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Ms. WATERS. Mr. Speaker, in 1965 the Office of Economic Opportunity 
launched Project Head Start to help break the cycle of poverty. It 
provided pre-school children of low-income families with a 
comprehensive program to meet their emotional, social, health, 
nutritional, and psychological needs. In 1969, Head Start became a 
permanent program within the Administration on Children, Youth and 
Families at the Department of Health and Human Services. Since its 
beginning, Head Start has served over 13.1 million children and their 
families, representing all races, classes, and regions of this country.
  After nearly 30 years, Head Start is being recognized by educators, 
child development specialists, community leaders, and parents across 
the Nation as the most successful publicly funded children's program 
there is. However, this program is now in jeopardy--it could be cut--it 
could even be eliminated.
  The Republican Contract With America proposes to take Head Start out 
of the hands of local communities and make it a function of State child 
care block grants. This would be disastrous.
  First of all, Head Start is not a child care program. Head Start is a 
comprehensive family-focused developmental program that addresses child 
and family needs. Head Start puts a premium on parent involvement by 
encouraging parents to participate in important program decisions. Head 
Start staff are members of the communities they serve, many are former 
Head Start parents. Program decisions are based on community needs, as 
defined by the community. Block granting Head Start would undo local 
control of addressing unique community needs. At a time when so much 
emphasis is placed on personal and family responsibility, it is more 
important than ever to have a program that is family-oriented. By 
lumping Head Start with other children's programs, the focus on 
families will be lost and important elements such as parenting skills, 
male involvement, literacy, and employment skills would be compromised.
  Mr. Speaker, I have received numerous letters from concerned parents 
and educators urging this Congress not to destroy the Head Start 
Program. Many parents have shared their personal experiences with me. 
They tell how Head Start has helped their families, how they have 
learned to be advocates for their children. Many of these parents 
started out as volunteers with their local Head Start Programs and went 
on to become permanent employees. I think these are the stories that we 
need to hear.
  Head Start must remain in the hands of local communities to ensure 
that important program elements are maintained. Head Start makes it 
possible for millions of children to look forward to a better future. 
To change the program now will close the door of opportunity on 
millions of children yet to step through a Head Start classroom door.
  Head Start is an investment in the human potential of children--
children who often fall behind in their first years of school and find 
their troubles compounded in later years. These children belong to all 
of us; they are the children of the Nation. We must preserve Head Start 
as a Federal to local program. We can no longer afford to sit back and 
hope that logic and sense of what is right will prevail. We need a 
national mobilization around Head Start, a coming together of parents, 
educators, community leaders, and public officials. A national 
mobilization that will transcend the traditional political process. 
Together we can make a difference. Let's not turn our backs on our 
children.


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