[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 57 (Tuesday, April 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4134]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A HEAD START FOR OUR NATION'S CHILDREN

  (Mr. FILNER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to call our attention to one of our 
Nation's most cost-effective and productive programs: Head Start.
  Head Start is a comprehensive program aimed at preschool age children 
of low-income families. In addition to providing education, it also 
includes nutritional services, health screening and treatment, and 
social services. One of Head Start's strengths is its emphasis on 
involving parents in their children's education.
  The idea of Head Start is simple. If you help children prepare for 
school, and if you work with their parents, they will enter 
kindergarten better able to learn, develop, and compete. Head Start 
invests in child development as the core of an antipoverty strategy.
  In a time of declining resources, our country should protect its most 
cost-effective programs, especially those that invest in our youngest 
children, empower families, and support work. Head Start is just such a 
program. Comprehensive early childhood education programs have been 
shown to save at least $3 for every $1 invested--by reducing future 
costs of special education, public assistance, and law enforcement.
  Rosemary Flores is one of many Head Start success stories. She is a 
grandmother in San Diego who was recently appointed as custodian of her 
grandchildren. She says, ``Head Start is like a life raft. It teaches 
the value of education and the concept of family unity. If I had my 
way, it would be available to everyone.''
  Unfortunately, Head Start is not yet available to everyone who 
qualifies. Currently only 40 percent of the eligible 3-to-5-year-olds 
or 20 percent of the eligible children from birth to 5 years are served 
by Head Start.
  Mr. Speaker, the President's budget request asks for $3.981 billion 
for Head Start in fiscal year 1997. This is a good start on Head Start. 
We should appropriate the full amount requested.

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