[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      SCHOOL READINESS ACT OF 2003

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. THOMAS H. ALLEN

                                of maine

                    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:

  Mr. ALLEN. Mr. Chairman, nearly 4 decades ago, a program was 
introduced that would forever change the lives of more than 20 million 
American disadvantaged children and their families. The achievements of 
Head Start have become so legendary that I thought it was secure. I was 
wrong.
  Instead of directly funding community-based Head Start programs, the 
School Readiness Act would allow some states to receive ``block grant'' 
funding. States could then use their own untested standards, avoid 
federal quality oversight, diminish services, weaken the role of 
parents, and shift money to shore up sagging state budgets.
  I have seen examples of the positive impact of Head Start throughout 
Maine. At a meeting earlier this year, for example, a Head Start father 
movingly told of his struggle with illness and unemployment; he firmly 
believes that his children are thriving despite this hardship primarily 
because of their enrollment in Head Start.
  At the same meeting, a graduate of Head Start credited her own 
success--being the first in her family to gain an advanced degree--to 
the program.
  Another Mainer wrote to me about her son, whose many medical problems 
at birth led his doctor to predict he would be severely mentally 
disabled. Enrollment in Early Head Start provided the early 
intervention that vastly improved his prospects.
  National studies confirm that Head Start works: the gap is narrowed 
significantly between Head Start children and other children in 
vocabulary and writing skills; once in kindergarten, they continue to 
make substantial progress in language and math skills. Head Start 
graduates are less likely than similarly situated children to repeat a 
grade, require special education, or be charged or convicted with a 
crime. They are more likely to complete high school and college and 
earn more as adults than those who did not have the benefit of this 
program.
  Head Start benefits all Americans in the long term. Numerous studies 
show that for every dollar spent on Head Start, taxpayers save $4 to $7 
in the future due to lower education, crime and welfare expenses. Yet, 
the President's budget for Head Start does not even keep up with the 
rate of inflation, let alone provide enough funding to serve all 
eligible children.
  If it ain't broke, why does the Administration want to ``fix'' it? 
The track record of Head Start and those who benefit from its services 
are evidence that there is no need to restructure the program. We 
should instead address its real financial needs: to fully fund this 
program to provide the greatest assistance for low-income children and 
their families.
  I urge my colleagues to vote for the Democratic substitute which will 
expand access to the program for more eligible children, improve 
teacher and program quality and strengthen the overall program. H.R. 
2210 would simply undermine a program which has been a major success.

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