[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SCHOOL READINESS ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. CORRINE BROWN

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 24, 2003

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2210) to 
     authorize the Head Start Act to improve the school readiness 
     of disadvantaged children, and for other purposes:

  Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Chairman, Head Start works just 
fine the way it is. Why the Republicans want to change something that 
has been proven to work, just to put their name on it, is just 
ridiculous. Head Start works fine just the way it is. One of my 
constituents, Eddie Moore, and all of his brothers went on to college 
after being in Head Start. He also went on to play professional 
football and now he is an extremely successful business man.
  Head Start is one of the most important education programs for low 
income children, and it is tragic that the House Republican leadership 
is set on dismantling it. The plan is not just to completely underfund 
the program, but to block grant the funding!
  You know, Head Start kids are very prepared and do better in school 
than low-income children who don't receive Head Start. It's been proven 
that Head Start narrows the readiness gap between Head Start kids and 
children from the more affluent side of the tracks. Head Start should 
help children arrive at school more ready to learn--and it does just 
that--very successfully.
  My best advice to the Republican leadership is: if it ain't broken, 
don't fix it, and more importantly, don't brake it! I strongly urge a 
``no'' vote on this bill.

                          ____________________