[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E671]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      STAND UP FOR HEAD START DAY

                                 ______


                           HON. TONY P. HALL

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 30, 1996

  Mr. HALL of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for 
the Head Start Program. Since 1965, this program has helped millions of 
low-income children prepare intellectually, physically, and emotionally 
for entrance into our school system.
  I have spent my career as a Congressman in pursuit of ways to ensure 
that the paths to success are accessible to all. Head Start represents 
a program that leads our country closer to this goal by providing low-
income children with educational training, as well as hot meals and 
essential medical services. By emphasizing community and parental 
involvement in achieving school preparedness, the Head Start Program 
helps kids take the first step toward achieving self-sufficiency.
  I have visited Head Start facilities in my district of Dayton, and 
have been impressed with the demonstrated success of these projects. 
During the past few months, I heard from many parents whose children 
have benefited from enrollment in Head Start, and who expressed their 
concerns over the future of funding for the program.
  Head Start serves as an example of what this country is doing right. 
It is not a charity program, but the type of empowerment program that 
is instrumental to breaking the chain of poverty in this country. I am 
relieved that after months of debate on appropriations for 1996, the 
final budget package restores funding for this initiative, because we 
should not allow our children to be defeated before they begin.

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