[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 124 (Thursday, September 29, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF H.R. 2123, SCHOOL READINESS ACT OF 2005

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                               speech of

                         HON. RAUL M. GRIJALVA

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2005

  Mr. GRIJALVA. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 2123, as 
this bill is a remarkable improvement on last Congress's version and 
includes important provisions which will benefit all Head Start 
participants. I will, however, vote against this legislation if 
Leadership succeeds in inserting a ``poison pill'' that, if adopted, 
would mark the first time Congress would permit organizations that run 
Head Start programs to discriminate against job applicants solely on 
the basis of their religion.
  While by no means a perfect bill, this legislation stands as a 
testament to the progress that can be made through bipartisan 
cooperation. This bill contains none of the controversial provisions 
from last Congress, such as block granting or universal competitions. 
Instead, H.R. 2123 contains several provisions which will benefit all 
Head Start participants, and I am proud of this fact and have worked 
hard with my Colleagues towards achieving these goals.
  In particular, H.R. 2123 provides additional resources for Migrant 
and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS) program expansion, which will allow for 
thousands of farm-worker children to exit the fields and enter the 
classroom. This expansion includes a 5% funding floor for Migrant and 
Seasonal Head Start. In step with this funding floor, the Secretary is 
required to compose a report determining how well we are serving 
children eligible for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. The bill also 
requires a study on the status of limited-English-proficient children 
and their families in Head Start and Early Head Start programs. These 
provisions and many others included in the bill before us today will 
benefit all Head Start students and families and set kids on the right 
foot for competing with their peers throughout their school years.
  Mr. Chairman, it is evident that the provisions in this year's bill 
will help millions of Head Start students and their families' 
educational, personal, and economic well-being. I ask, why, then, are 
we considering inserting a poison pill into this remarkable piece of 
legislation? The amendment offered by Mr. Boustany would severely block 
the program's participants, children and parents, from climbing out of 
poverty to self-sufficiency. This is simply unacceptable in light of 
what Katrina has unearthed as a systemic problem in our country: 
widespread and unresolved poverty.
  This amendment would prevent volunteer Head Start parents from moving 
off the welfare rolls into self-sufficiency as Head Start certified 
teachers, simply because they are the wrong religion. This outcome is 
not needed, not wanted, and definitely not helpful to the millions 
living in poverty today.
  Additionally, this amendment also sets a dangerous precedent: such a 
change would allow faith-based organizations to discriminate not just 
on the basis of a person's religious affiliation, but also on how 
closely they follow the tenets of that religion. This could include 
religious beliefs on medical treatments, marriage, pregnancy, gender, 
and even race.
  Don't let Head Start fail by excluding qualified teachers and engaged 
parents from Head Start programs run by faith-based organizations. I 
urge my colleagues to vote no on final passage if this dangerous 
amendment passes.

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