[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 2, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H4326-H4379]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IMPROVING HEAD START ACT OF 2007

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 348 and rule 
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House 
on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 1429.

                              {time}  1439


                     In the Committee of the Whole

  Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the 
Whole House on the state of the Union for the consideration of the bill 
(H.R. 1429) to reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program 
quality, to expand access, and for other purposes, with Mr. Schiff in 
the chair.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the 
first time.
  The gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller) and the gentleman 
from California (Mr. McKeon) each will control 30 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. George 
Miller).
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman and Members of the House, today we take up the Head 
Start Improvement Act of 2007. This is a bipartisan piece of 
legislation, as it was last year when it was brought to the House 
floor. And in that vein, I certainly want to begin by thanking the 
staff on both sides of the aisle that have worked very hard to bring 
this legislation in this form with the cooperation of the members of 
both sides of the committee, the majority and the minority. I begin by 
thanking Mr. Lloyd Horwich, who is working for Mr. Kildee; Stephanie 
Milburn, with Mr. McKeon; Sarah Rittling, working with Mr. Castle; and 
Molly Carter and Ruth Friedman of the majority staff. This staff knows 
this program backwards and forwards. They have worked long and hard 
with the Head Start community, with the States, with Governors, with 
local communities, to make sure that, in fact, we have a program that 
we can be proud of, that we can continue to place our faith in, and 
does what we want, which is to give children from impoverished families 
and communities the opportunity to have a head start and to come to 
kindergarten school ready, if you will, with the skills necessary to 
take advantage of the opportunity that will be presented to them when 
they start school.
  Head Start has been the premiere early education program in this 
country for more than 40 years. It has served more than 20 million 
children and families in that time. It is a highly successful research-
based, comprehensive childhood development and early education program 
for low-income children from birth to 5 and for their families.
  Both Head Start and Early Head Start help our country's most 
disadvantaged children become better prepared to succeed in school and 
in life by addressing the needs of the whole child and providing 
services such as

[[Page H4327]]

health and nutrition in addition to the educational curriculum. Its 
design has always been based in science, and the bill before us builds 
on the strong foundation again by turning to the best science to renew 
and improve the Head Start program.
  Head Start remains a cornerstone of this country's effort to close 
the achievement gap, to combat poverty, and to provide all its citizens 
with the opportunity to thrive.
  Today more than 12 million children in America live in poverty, 20 
percent of them under the age of 6. Children who grow up in poverty are 
more likely to struggle in school, face physical and mental health 
problems, and see fewer economic opportunities throughout their life.
  The bill before us is central to achieving the goals of No Child Left 
behind because the achievement gap that appears later on in elementary 
school begins before these children reach kindergarten. Head Start is 
one of the most evaluated Federal programs, and research concludes that 
Head Start works. Recent findings from the congressionally-mandated 
Impact Study found that after less than one school year, Head Start 
narrowed the achievement gap by 45 percent in prereading and 28 percent 
in prewriting. The study also found that Head Start helped to improve 
some of the important parenting practices, including helping to 
increase the frequency with which parents read to and with their 
children.
  Another large-scale study on Head Start found that children made 
significant gains during the Head Start year, and made even greater 
gains over the kindergarten year.

                              {time}  1445

  By the end of kindergarten, Head Start graduates were essentially in 
the national norms in early reading and writing, narrowed by the 
achievement gap in vocabulary and general knowledge and early math.
  I am encouraged that the research concludes that Head Start is doing 
what we expect and demand that it should do to help prepare children to 
succeed in school. However, this research shows that there are many new 
ways to improve Head Start, and I believe we accomplish that in the 
bill before us. The bill before us will help more children arrive at 
kindergarten ready to succeed by improving the program quality and 
expanding access to more children.
  This bill includes many improvements to build on the latest research 
in brain and child development. The bill also recognizes that key to 
the first-class Head Start programs is teachers. This is absolutely 
imperative, and this bill works hard to make sure that we continue to 
provide for improvement and professional development of the teachers in 
the Head Start program.
  We increase the teacher qualifications by directing the majority of 
new funds for program improvement activities, including significant new 
funds to increase teacher salaries; requiring that all programs use 
research-based practices to support children's preliteracy and 
vocabulary skills; requiring a full time staff to develop career 
ladders and professional development plans; directing the Health and 
Human Services agency to implement an observational assessment tool 
that will evaluate classroom quality and provide immediate feedback for 
programs on their strengths and weaknesses; improving the professional 
development and training and technical assistance systems so that they 
are better grounded in science and more responsive to local training 
needs; and requiring the Secretary to reevaluate and update current 
early learning standards and assessments using the best science 
available.
  The point is this: This is a major revamping of the Head Start 
program, with an emphasis on quality, with an emphasis on outcomes, 
with an emphasis on the assessments and how these programs are doing so 
that we can provide the continuous improvement of these programs, and 
we can provide continuous high-quality programs to the children who are 
in need of these programs. It's only then that we can be assured that 
Head Start will continue to earn its reputation as the premier early 
childhood education and development program in this Nation. It is only 
then that we can say to the taxpayers that this continues to be a very 
wise investment of the dollars in the children of this Nation in 
providing them access to the kinds of programs that are necessary if 
they are going to be able to take advantage of the educational 
opportunities in K-12, if they are going to be able to close the gap 
between themselves and middle-income kids, if they are going to be able 
to go to school with those skills.
  I believe that this legislation does that. This legislation builds on 
what was tried and worked on in the last session of Congress under the 
leadership of Mr. Castle, Mr. McKeon, Mr. Boehner, myself and Mr. 
Kildee. This is a continuation of that process, and that's why it 
received the overwhelming bipartisan support when it was reported from 
the committee. I hope that my colleagues will lend it the same kind of 
support at the end of this debate and the amendment process.
  With that, Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, let me start by commending my friends, Chairman Miller, 
Chairman Kildee and Mr. Castle, for their hard work on this good bill, 
which I am so pleased we were able to pass with an overwhelming 
bipartisan majority in committee 2 months ago.
  While the resources to fund Head Start are significant, more work is 
needed to achieve the ultimate program goal on closing the readiness 
gap between Head Start children and their more advantaged peers as they 
enter kindergarten.
  Some studies indicate that children enrolled in Head Start do make 
some progress, but at the same time we need to understand that we still 
have some work ahead of us in closing the readiness gap. With this in 
mind, the bill before us today will strengthen Head Start's academic 
standards by emphasizing cognitive development and the results of 
scientifically based research in topics critical to children's school 
readiness.
  The measure also aims to improve teacher quality by ensuring a 
greater number of Head Start teachers have degrees and are adequately 
trained in early childhood development, particularly in teaching the 
fundamentals. That's great news for those children who will be 
participating in the Head Start program years down the road.
  I have also been disappointed that in recent years we have heard many 
stories that have marred Head Start's good name. In various communities 
we found that financial abuse within Head Start centers is far too 
commonplace. In fact, a March 2005 report from the Government 
Accountability Office warned that the financial control system in the 
Head Start program is flawed in failing to prevent multi-million-dollar 
financial abuses that cheat poor children, taxpayers and law-abiding 
Head Start operators.
  In the 109th Congress, Republicans led the House in passing a Head 
Start reauthorization bill that addressed these weaknesses in the Head 
Start financial control system. I believe the bill before us moves in 
that direction as well. It will require Head Start operators to meet a 
range of financial disclosure requirements as a condition of receiving 
and keeping their Federal Head Start grants. Furthermore, under this 
bill, grantees would have to be overseen by a local governance board 
that provides direction and actively oversees program activities. These 
are positive steps to ensure abuses are minimized, and that taxpayers' 
funds and the children those funds are meant to serve are protected.
  Mr. Chairman, while this bill does represent overall progress for 
Head Start, I would be remiss if I did not note that there are some 
significant flaws in it, flaws that I hope we can correct before this 
measure is sent to the President. For example, under this measure the 
majority has decided to expand Head Start eligibility to those who the 
program was not designed to serve. Ultimately I believe this policy 
change may have the impact of leaving many children who live in poverty 
underserved by Head Start programs. This runs contrary to what we all 
believe to be the mission of this program and will do nothing to 
strengthen Head Start services; if anything, it will weaken them.
  I am also disappointed that the House will not have an opportunity

[[Page H4328]]

today to vote on an amendment offered yesterday at the Rules Committee 
by Mr. Fortuno, to protect the civil liberties of faith-based providers 
by clarifying that these institutions are not required to relinquish 
their Civil Rights Act hiring protections when they participate in the 
Federal Head Start program. These protections are already the law of 
the land with regard to various Federal programs, including those 
impacting welfare reform and Community Service Block Grants. In fact, 
President Clinton himself signed such language into the law.
  The Fortuno amendment also would have ensured religious organizations 
would not be forced to remove art, icons, Scripture or other symbols in 
order to receive Federal Head Start grants. Barring these providers 
from fully participating in Head Start is not only a disservice to the 
faith-based providers, but also to the children who depend on the Head 
Start program and the taxpayers who should know that Federal dollars 
are granted to the best available service providers, faith-based or 
otherwise. Instead, the majority thrust upon us an amendment that 
praises the work of faith-based organizations, but does not protect 
their civil rights. It's literally all talk and no action. Indeed, the 
only people protected by this amendment are certain members of the 
majority party seeking political cover. Faith-based providers are left 
to fend for themselves.
  Mr. Chairman, in spite of these flaws, which I hope we can correct in 
time, the Improving Head Start Act remains a solid reauthorization 
measure. Head Start is a good program that is capable of achieving even 
greater results, and the bill before us will help us get there.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I yield 4 minutes now to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee), subcommittee chair and 
responsible for bringing this bill to the floor.
  Mr. KILDEE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, in March, the Education and Labor Committee 
overwhelming passed by a vote of 42-1 H.R. 1429, which was my privilege 
to introduce with both Democrats and Republicans as cosponsors. I hope 
at the close of today's debate the full House will do similarly.
  Head Start has served our most vulnerable children and families well 
for 42 years; and more recently, early Head Start has done the same for 
infants and toddlers.
  Head Start works, and this bill will make it work even better. This 
bill increases Head Start's authorization by $461 million to benefit as 
many as 10,000 more children, and increases funding for Indian and 
migrant and seasonal Head Start programs. It sets aside 60 percent of 
new funds for activities such as teacher salaries, professional 
development and extended program hours. It suspends the flawed national 
reporting system. It improves teacher qualifications. It increases 
access to Early Head Start. It improves training and technical 
assistance to help programs identify their strengths and weaknesses. 
And it strengthens the quality of Head Start boards and maintains 
strong parental involvement through shared governance of Head Start 
programs.
  I would note that we are expecting a motion to recommit that would 
allow faith-based programs to discriminate in hiring based on religion 
using Federal funds. Before supporting this bill by 42-1, the committee 
considered and rejected such a policy. Faith-based programs can and do 
participate in Head Start and have done so for many years, and I 
support that strongly. However, this motion is wrong, and I encourage 
my colleagues to oppose it.
  In closing, I want to thank Chairman Miller for his outstanding work 
through the years on this program and for his specific work this year. 
This is a very good bill. I want to thank Ranking Members McKeon and 
Castle, it was really a pleasure to work with them, and all the members 
of the committee for their hard work on this bill.
  I would like to thank the staff, especially Ruth Friedman, Chairman 
Miller's senior policy adviser; Susan Ross and James Bergeron with 
Ranking Member McKeon; and Jessica Gross with Ranking Member Castle; 
and Lloyd Horwich of my staff.
  Mr. Chairman, I look forward to passage of this bill today and to 
working through the conference committee to see that this bill becomes 
law.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 5 minutes at this time to the 
senior Republican on the subcommittee. I am proud of all the work that 
he has done to bring this bill to the floor last Congress and this 
Congress, the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the distinguished ranking member of 
the subcommittee for his kind words and for yielding. I also obviously 
thank Mr. Miller and Mr. Kildee for their work on this, and Ms. 
Woolsey, who has worked on it before with me. And I am pleased to be 
able to be here.
  I support the legislation before us today which will reauthorize the 
Head Start program. And like almost every other Member of this body, I 
believe strongly in the benefits of this program. I trust that H.R. 
1429, the Improving Head Start Act, will improve Head Start by 
emphasizing that every child, regardless of their economic status, 
should have the best chance possible to succeed.
  In 1965, Head Start was created to give economically disadvantaged 
children access to the same educational, health, nutritional, social 
and other services that were enjoyed by their more affluent peers. The 
goal of the program was, as it remains today, to provide children a 
solid foundation that will prepare them for success in school and later 
in life.
  As the centerpiece of the Federal Government's efforts to support 
quality early childhood education for our Nation's most disadvantaged 
youth, Head Start has served nearly 20 million low-income children and 
their families. Currently Head Start serves over 900,000 children every 
day and has over 1,600 grantees across the United States. In my home 
State of Delaware, Head Start programs serve over 2,000 children, with 
over 800 additional 3- and 4-year-olds receiving assistance through 
State government funding.
  We all can agree on the need for Head Start and its successes. We 
must also recognize that Head Start can produce even greater results 
for children. Students who attend Head Start programs do start school 
more prepared than those with similar backgrounds who do not attend 
Head Start. However, Head Start students continue to enter kindergarten 
well below national norms of school readiness. By moving to close the 
school readiness gap, this bill will improve results for almost a 
million Head Start students across the Nation.
  Toward the goal of closing the readiness gap, the Improving Head 
Start Act strengthens Head Start's academic focus while maintaining its 
comprehensive nature that is imperative to its success. The bill 
improves the academic focus of the program by establishing new quality 
standards that ensure enrolled children develop and demonstrate 
language skills; prereading knowledge, including an interest in and 
appreciation of books, reading and writing; premathematics knowledge, 
such as recognition of numbers and counting; cognitive abilities 
related to academic achievement; and social development important for 
environments constructive for child development, early learning and 
school success.
  Research consistently demonstrates a link between the learning 
potential of children and the level of education and training of 
classroom teachers. For that reason, we improve the quality of teachers 
in Head Start classrooms by requiring that in time 50 percent of all 
Head Start teachers nationwide must have a baccalaureate degree.

                              {time}  1500

  As I am sure some of my colleagues know, this bill does not include a 
proposed State demonstration project, which was incorporated into the 
legislation the House passed in 2003. I believe strongly, however, in 
the policy goals of increased coordination and integration that were 
and continue to be at the heart of efforts to remove barriers and 
prevent collaboration between Head Start and successful State and local 
early childhood initiatives. I believe the proposal to be offered by 
Tom Price of Georgia would foster integration among quality early 
childhood programs, and plan on supporting Mr. Price's amendment.
  About 40 States, including Delaware, have established some form of 
early

[[Page H4329]]

childhood education, because States recognize that these services can 
make a real difference in preparing children for a successful future. 
Various local initiatives have also been launched, and today, 
disadvantaged children and families have access to programs and 
services from a wide range of sources.
  Some of these programs rival or exceed the quality of Head Start, 
while others fall short. Head Start is no longer the only option for 
early childhood education, and we must ensure that all children are 
receiving the same quality education. In this new era, Head Start 
should be working toward integrating service with other school 
readiness programs not competing against them. Where we previously 
would have allowed no more than eight States to improve Head Start 
coordination with State and local efforts, this bill will ensure 
programs in all 50 States are able to increase collaboration.
  We are encouraging Head Start grantees to align their academics with 
State-developed K-12 academic content standards, as well as to have a 
more active partnership with local school districts that serve the same 
communities. This will help to facilitate a smooth transition to 
kindergarten for their students.
  Finally, we are asking early childhood providers in the State, 
including Head Start, preschool and child care, to come together to 
identify ways to integrate school readiness initiatives across the 
State.
  As I have said, I believe strongly in the Head Start program, 
particularly because of how the program helps children later in their 
lives. Despite these stories, we have also heard many stories of 
programs in which funds were being diverted away from this purpose.
  In 2005, the GAO released a report that warned the financial control 
system in the Federal Head Start early childhood program is flawed and 
failing to prevent multimillion-dollar financial abuses that cheat poor 
children, taxpayers and law-abiding Head Start operators. The GAO made 
some helpful recommendations on how we can strengthen the oversight 
structure to prevent abuses and protect good grantees. They recommended 
that increased competition in the program could help weed out poorly 
performing grantees and ensure high-quality services are available to 
children and families.
  In response to the GAO's recommendations of how to eliminate 
financial mismanagement, we are increasing the competitive nature of 
the current program. The competition requirements in the Improving Head 
Start Act will help to alleviate these problems, but, more importantly, 
will drive program improvement across the board. Program improvements 
will ultimately help thousands of children nationwide, which should 
always be our goal.
  As I said at the outset, Head Start is an important and very popular 
program. The importance of early childhood education services cannot be 
overstated. I believe strongly that the reforms sought in H.R. 1429 
will go a long way to institute needed reforms in an already successful 
program.
  I urge my colleagues to support the legislation, and I thank all 
those who worked on this, including the staff, and I look forward to 
the passage of the legislation today.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield for the 
purpose of making a unanimous consent request to the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Gene Green).
  (Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for 
yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for the Head Start 
Reauthorization Bill that was sent to this Chamber.
  Head Start is one of the best programs we offer our youngest 
students.
  Since its creation in 1965, it has proven to be our most valuable 
school readiness program in the history of this country.
  Especially, now that we know more about the importance of early-
childhood education.
  Time after time, we have seen reports that prove students who attend 
Head Start perform better than those who don't.
  It has also proven to help close the achievement gap between students 
of differing socioeconomic status.
  The Republican amendment to this bill would repeal existing civil 
rights protections that ensure programs cannot use federal funds to 
discriminate in their hiring practices.
  Head Start teachers should be chosen because they are qualified and 
effective teachers who will help children succeed and thrive.
  Discrimination should not be supported with public funds.
  National religious organizations, civil rights groups, national labor 
organizations, and the education groups all oppose any roll back of 
civil rights protections.
  This is such a critical program, and it's important that this body 
reauthorize this program in a manner that shows bipartisan support for 
educating our children.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Thousands of children in my district benefit from Head Start and it's 
essential that we reauthorize this program with a bipartisan plan that 
will help this program serve more children effectively.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes 
to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I want to begin by thanking 
Chairman Miller, Ranking Member McKeon, Chairman Kildee and Ranking 
Member Castle, as well as both the majority and minority staff for 
their hard work and for including so many issues near and dear to my 
heart in this bill. Some of those are recruiting minority male 
teachers; emphasizing children's social, emotional well-being; 
recognizing the expanding role of grandparents and kinship caregivers 
in children's lives; keep parent councils as equals to the governing 
boards; incorporating the best practices from the field of home 
visitation into the Early Head Start programs; and encouraging the 
development of on-line graduate training. All of these are key issues 
to me and to the people of Chicago. I know that you have toiled long 
and hard to integrate Member concerns, and you have my appreciation.
  In addition, I am very pleased that this bipartisan bill preserves 
the anti-discrimination history of Head Start advocated so ardently by 
the Head Start and religious communities. Federal funds are not meant 
to support discrimination of any type, and I applaud the Members of 
both sides for maintaining this fundamental commitment to justice and 
fairness in this bill.
  Finally, I must mention a concern from Chicago Head Start programs. I 
know that the Chairs and ranking members have worked hard to address 
the problems surrounding low-income families in high cost of living 
areas such as Chicago from losing access to this critical child 
development program. I ask that the issue of income eligibility 
continue to be discussed so that the children of working poor families 
can be included.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
wonderful Representative from Michigan (Mr. Ehlers).
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise to briefly address a topic which I have not 
heard discussed here, although I have heard it discussed numerous times 
within the committee itself. I am very unhappy with the resulting bill 
that came out this year. The issue I wish to discuss is Head Start 
programs operated by faith-based institutions.
  What has happened in this bill is that we basically have reversed the 
Civil Rights Act, which provides that faith-based institutions may 
discriminate in hiring by hiring people of the same faith as the 
institution. If it is a church, for example, they can hire people who 
are members of their church or denominationm without violating civil 
rights laws. That is specifically legal under the Civil Rights Act. 
This bill prevents an institution from doing that; if they wish to 
operate a Head Start program, then they are not allowed to hire on that 
basis. So this bill is actually a reversal of the Civil Rights Act.
  Now, why is this important? Why do churches need to do that? A 
perfect example was given last year during the debate on this bill in 
committee, when Representative Tom Osborne, better known as Coach 
Osborne, related an example in his district where a small church which 
had a small staff decided to operate a program similar to the Head 
Start program. They wanted to hire someone who could serve on their 
staff half-time and also operate the

[[Page H4330]]

educational program during the other half of their time. But they 
needed someone of their faith to do the church work. But this bill 
would prohibit that person to also teach in the school, but they were 
hired on a religious basis.
  There is so much misunderstanding on this issue, and it really 
puzzles me, because I have very good friends over on the other side of 
the aisle whom I know have a deep religious faith. But why they are so 
anti-religious on this subject, I do not understand. They seem to 
believe that they have to prevent anyone with a religious belief from 
operating within a program of this sort.
  I have to keep reminding everyone, this is not a case of churches 
trying to proselytize by having someone of their own faith running the 
program and teaching the kids that faith. That is not it.
  The point is simply that faith-based institutions, by virtue of their 
faith, are determined to help people in the community who need help. It 
doesn't matter whether it is a Head Start program, whether it is a food 
program, as we operate in my church back home, or many other programs. 
They are doing it as an expression of their faith.
  Now, is this wrong? Do we have to say, I am sorry, you can't run this 
program because you are a member of this church and you might express 
your faith? That is not what they are trying to do. So why do we have 
to go to great lengths in this particular bill to stop people from 
doing that, to prevent churches and other faith-based institutions from 
operating a Head Start program, unless they hire people from outside 
their church? That, to me, is grossly unfair. Frankly, I think it 
violates the Constitution, and I am strongly opposed to that practice.
  Other than that, I think it is a wonderful bill and I would like to 
support this bill, but I am terribly disturbed by this anti-religious 
altitude that I have seen manifested here. I hope we can change this in 
this bill.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Hinojosa).
  (Mr. HINOJOSA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. HINOJOSA. I thank Chairman Miller for extending time to me.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1429, the Improving 
Head Start Act. This legislation is long overdue. I would like to 
commend Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon and Subcommittee 
Chairman Kildee and Ranking Member Castle for working together to craft 
bipartisan legislation that will significantly improve the Head Start 
Program, especially for Hispanic and migrant farm worker families.
  It is my hope that this spirit of bipartisanship will carry the 
legislation all the way to the President's desk for his signature. I 
strongly urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 1429.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1429, the Improving 
Head Start Act.
  This legislation is long overdue. I would like to commend Chairman 
Miller and Ranking Member McKeon and Subcommittee Chairman Kildee and 
Ranking Member Castle for working together to craft bipartisan 
legislation that will significantly improve the Head Start program--
especially for Hispanic and migrant farm worker families.
  It is my hope that this spirit of bipartisanship will carry the 
legislation all the way to the President's desk for his signature.
  It is also my hope that this body will reject any attempts to allow 
discrimination to infect the Heat Start program--whether the 
discrimination is based on religion or on the language that is spoken 
at home.
  The bill before us today strengthens ``Head Start'' for Hispanics and 
families whose primary language is not English.
  Here are just a few of the highlights: The bill increases the base 
funding for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start to a minimum of 5 percent 
of the overall Head Start funding, which means that more farm worker 
children will be in preschool instead of in the fields; the bill sets 
standards for communications with limited English proficient (LEP) 
parents so that language is not a barrier to Head Start access.
  It instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a 
study of how Head Start programs serve LEP populations. It enhances 
Head Start transitions for LEP children to kindergarten.
  It provides technical assistance resources for improving the quality 
of Head Start services for LEP populations, particularly in communities 
that have experienced a rapid and large increase in Head Start eligible 
LEP children.

  It improves ensures that LEP children have access to linguistically 
and culturally appropriate instructional services that support 
proficiency in the English language and gains in other domains 
important for school readiness, including pre-literacy and numeracy 
skills.
  It addresses the shortage of qualified teachers with expertise in 
serving LEP children by establishing a teacher career ladder 
demonstration program at Hispanic-serving Institutions and tribally-
controlled Colleges and Universitites.
  Tehese are significant improvements to the Head Start Program. Again, 
I would like to thank the chair and ranking member for working with us 
to include them in the bill before us today.
  I strongly urge a ``yes'' vote on H.R. 1429.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes 
to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Woolsey), a member of the 
committee.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, we must ensure that no matter where a 
child comes from or what his or her background is, that child has an 
equal opportunity to succeed in school and in life. That begins with 
quality early childhood education, and that is why we need to and must 
reauthorize Head Start.
  This bill will allow 10,000 more children to benefit from the Head 
Start program. But many, many more children are eligible for Head 
Start, and those children will continue to be left behind. A real 
investment in our children would ensure that every single child who is 
eligible has access to this very successful program. Without full 
funding, some children continue to start elementary school far behind 
their peers.
  Some Members, as my friend on the other side of the aisle talked 
about, would like to allow Head Start programs to discriminate by using 
taxpayer dollars to hire staff based upon their religion, which is 
against everything I believe that the Head Start program stands for. 
When we already have a shortage of qualified Head Start teachers, we 
must not allow qualified teachers to be turned away simply because of 
their religion.
  Mr. Chairman, children are 25 percent of our population. They are 100 
percent of our future. We must support and expand Head Start for the 
best possible beginning of their lives.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare), a member of the committee.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1429, 
the Improving Head Start Act. As a member of the Education and Labor 
Committee, I had the privilege of working on this bipartisan bill, 
which I believe will help more children arrive at kindergarten ready to 
succeed. Not only does this bill improve teacher quality, expand access 
and strengthen school readiness, it also addresses the unique 
challenges faced by rural Head Start programs.
  Much of my district is rural. Therefore, I worked with several of my 
colleagues to ensure Head Start providers receive the support and 
flexibility required to serve America's rural communities. 
Specifically, we provided the assistance needed to improve 
transportation services in rural areas, the recruitment and retention 
of qualified instructors for rural programs and outreach to rural 
families. Later today, I will offer an amendment with my colleagues, 
Congressmen Space, Welch and Altmire that will further expand this 
assistance to rural Head Start.
  Head Start is the country's premier early education childhood 
development and education program, serving more than 900,000 of our 
Nation's most needy families annually. Children who attend Head Start 
make gains in vocabulary, early writing and social behavior and enter 
school better prepared than lower income children who do not attend 
Head Start.
  It is critical that all eligible families know about Head Start and 
that Congress allocates the necessary resources Head Start providers 
need in order to continue and expand these successful programs.
  I urge all my colleagues to stand up for rural and low income 
children by voting ``yes'' on H.R. 1429.

[[Page H4331]]

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Utah (Mr. Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of Utah. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Delaware 
for giving me this opportunity to discuss the concept of Head Start, 
which is a significant program that does a great deal of good for kids 
who are in dire need of this kind of service.
  If indeed the decisions that we made in life were always of a vast 
contrast, differences were black versus white, night versus day, even 
the simple ones of right versus wrong, our life would be easy and our 
choices would be easy.
  But, unfortunately, life is not like that. The decisions and choices 
we get to make are always going to be a shade of gray. We are given 
oftentimes two goods, and we have to decide which is the better choice. 
How we make those decisions identifies us as individuals; but it also 
defines what we are as a society.
  This particular debate today is dealing with one of those basic 
choices between two goods. We have one of the big differences with this 
particular reauthorization of Head Start versus the reauthorization of 
Head Start that we passed last year, both of them good bills, is the 
concept of faith-based institutions within these two bodies.
  One of the things that bothered me also as a speech teacher is as we 
are talking about this issue, sometimes we are talking different 
angles, kind of like ships passing in the night, without discussing the 
same definition of terms.
  One side will say that faith-based institutions should not be used 
because of the hiring practices. If this institution decides to hire 
within their own religious group, a program that is legal both 
legislatively as well as judicially, then they should not be used in 
the concept of Head Start, or used as a program for Head Start. It has 
nothing to do with proselytizing, it has to do with whether they should 
be used at all. The other side simply says value is what is best for 
kids. Those are two goods. Neither one is necessarily bad. The issue 
is: Which is more important to us?
  I am going to make the argument to you that if we really want to 
define our society, what we have to do is to say our highest value for 
this education program is what is best for kids. If, indeed, a faith-
based institution is the best program to help kids break the cycle of 
poverty, understand the importance of education to try to lead a better 
life and improve their lives and their family's at the same time, then 
that has to be our highest value. That must be our highest value.
  What we have to do is avoid the biases that we have on any other 
issue. The question is what best helps kids. Once again, if a faith-
based institution is the best way of helping a kid, do it. For heaven's 
sake, do it. Do not hold kids hostage to our own social dogma. It may 
not be a bad social dogma, but the question is, where is our priority? 
What are our values?
  With these kids who desperately need this help, this assistance, the 
most important thing is to give them that help so they can move forward 
and they can break the poverty cycle, and they can move on with their 
lives and help themselves and their families at the same time.
  If that is not our goal, if that is not our purpose, if we are really 
not talking about how to help kids best, then we are fooling ourselves 
and making poor choices and kind of demeaning the entire debate and 
discussion of what the Federal Government will do in the area of 
education.
  Once again, Mr. Chairman, we will have a chance to discuss these 
issues again in some other format, but I would urge my colleagues to 
remember we have to make a choice somehow, and our choice should be in 
the best interest of kids, and everything else, everything else, has to 
be secondary to that goal.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, we have just heard the 
suggestion that some programs might be better if only the program 
sponsors could discriminate in employment. We hadn't heard those 
arguments for over 40 years before this administration came in.
  Let's talk about when you say ``protect civil liberties,'' what 
liberties you are protecting? If you are protecting somebody's right to 
tell somebody they can't get a job because of their religion, if you 
can discriminate against someone because of their religion, racial 
discrimination laws essentially cannot be enforced. So who are you 
protecting? You are protecting the one trying to discriminate; the 
victim of discrimination loses all protection.
  The children of families of unpopular religions will ask their 
parents why they couldn't get a job in the Head Start program, and they 
will have to be told they are not hiring people of our religion. Just 
what kind of Head Start is that?
  Proponents are saying we lose opportunities. We have plenty of 
opportunities in Head Start. All we have to do is fund it more, and 
there will be plenty of opportunities for Head Start programs.
  There has also been a suggestion you may have to take icons off the 
wall. If icons have to be taken down, it is because of a violation of 
the establishment clause of the Constitution. Let me tell you, passing 
a motion to recommit will not solve a violation of the establishment 
clause.
  Forty years ago race and religious discrimination was found to be so 
reprehensible that we made it illegal even with your private funds. Now 
we have a plea to protect the people trying to discriminate and not the 
victims of discrimination. We need to leave the law the way it has been 
for the last 40 years. We can keep the antidiscrimination laws and 
those programs. Any program that can get funded with this faith-based 
initiative amendment could be funded anyway if you just comply with the 
antidiscrimination laws that have been in effect for the last 40 years.
  We ought not to have to tell our children why certain parents can't 
get a job in a program because we are failing to protect the civil 
rights of the victim of discrimination because all of a sudden we are 
interested in the civil rights of the person trying to discriminate.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes 
to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth).
  Mr. YARMUTH. Mr. Chairman, as we pass the reins of our Nation to 
future generations, we must acknowledge that America's continued 
prosperity in the global economy will not be ensured unless we equip 
our children, the leaders of tomorrow, with the tools they need to 
succeed down the road.
  To achieve this, we must cultivate not just the most privileged 
students, not only our brightest students, but also the students who 
grew up with disadvantages. Indeed, we must nurture the potential of 
all our children because it is in the best interest of our country to 
maximize the contributions and success of every American.
  I recently visited a Head Start program at Indian Trail Elementary in 
my district in Louisville. The veritable beehive of activity there 
spoke louder than 40 years of studies on Head Start progress, but they 
said the same thing: The thoroughly engaged children were actively 
building a solid foundation for their futures, and they were loving the 
pursuit.
  Like their predecessors, the 1,800 Head Start students in Louisville 
and the 1 million nationwide are making tremendous gains in family 
literacy, vocabulary, early writing, letter recognition, and social 
behavior, skills that will pay huge dividends in their future pursuits.
  We have an opportunity today to extend and improve this program which 
is so vital to the preparation of today's youth, who in turn are 
critical to America's future. It is our moral responsibility and I 
believe our honor and privilege to reauthorize Head Start, and I urge 
my colleagues to join me in doing so.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes 
to the gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Tierney).
  Mr. TIERNEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from California for 
yielding me this time.
  We are told over and over again in committee hearings from experts 
and scholars of all natures that we could close 50 percent of the 
achievement gap

[[Page H4332]]

that we see in our country if we have effective preschool, 
prekindergarten programs. Head Start is just that kind of a program.
  We see over and over again the evidence showing us it has a positive 
economic and social impact across this Nation, particularly in its 
comprehensive nature, the fact that it deals with education, deals with 
health issues and social implications.
  The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, my State, 80 percent of 3-year-
olds are still not enrolled in prekindergarten or Head Start programs. 
We need to be expanding this program for all of the good things it does 
because we need to take advantage of that opportunity to close that 
gap.
  One of the ways that we are going to do that is to attract quality 
teachers. I am glad to see in this bill that Mr. Sestak has filed an 
amendment to provide up to $10,000 in loan forgiveness for college 
graduates who commit to teach in the Head Start field. We have raised 
the standard of the teachers that we want, requiring them to meet a 
certain grade. That means we are going to have to pay people in order 
to go into this profession because it is still going to cost them 
considerably to get that degree. If we are going to do that, we have to 
step forward. I think Mr. Sestak's idea, which we have been talking 
about in the higher education reauthorization bill for some time, is 
one way of doing that. Loan forgiveness for early education teachers 
over a period of years will allow us to have that program meet the 
pinnacle that we need it to reach.
  For this and many other reasons, I think this bill is a good bill and 
deserves our attention and our support. I ask my colleagues to join me 
in voting for it.
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Price).
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from 
Delaware for allowing me to come and chat on a little different topic, 
a topic that we tried to bring to the floor today on this bill, and a 
topic that I think would truly expand and protect children in the Head 
Start program, but a topic that wasn't allowed to be brought to the 
floor because an amendment wasn't allowed. I think this issue truly 
demonstrates where the priorities of the majority party are.
  This issue that I attempted to bring to the floor would have resulted 
in significantly greater safety for the children who are transported in 
Head Start programs.
  In 1992, Mr. Chairman, Congress required the issuance of regulations 
that related to rear-door emergency exits and safety restraints on Head 
Start transportation. That was in 1992. Since the final rule for these 
new regulations was published, the effective date has been delayed 
three times.
  Last week, buried deep in H.R. 1591, the emergency supplemental for 
Iraq, was language that delays these transportation safety requirements 
for Head Start programs once again. The fine print reveals that the 
rear emergency exit requirements are delayed for another year, and a 
seat belt safety requirement is delayed until another study is done.
  Well, Congress required these regulations to ensure the safe 
operation of vehicles by Head Start agencies; and currently, the 
leading cause of death for children ages 3 to 7 is motor vehicle, 
traffic crashes. The reason why these transportation requirements were 
put forth is that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
does not approve of the use of vans or cars or vehicles of other types 
for the purpose of providing planned transportation services. School 
buses are the safest form of transportation because they include many 
special features. Further delaying these requirements means authorizing 
that Head Start grantees can transport children using vehicles that are 
not designed specifically for the purpose of the safe transportation of 
children.
  My amendment, which wasn't allowed, would have ended this delay and 
make the regulations for emergency rear-door exits and seat belts on 
vehicles used to transport children effective immediately.
  Mr. Chairman, as you know, on the first day of this Congress, 
children were paraded in front of the American people, and the new 
majority claimed that the House would come to order for the children. 
Well, today, if it is truly about the children, then the majority would 
have allowed this amendment to be entertained. Any further delays 
endangers lives of children.
  So I suggest, Mr. Chairman, that the hypocrisy of this process is 
telling, and that if we truly are interested in making certain that our 
greatest resource, our children, the future of our Nation, are 
protected, then we would have allowed this amendment, and I am 
distressed it wasn't allowed. I encourage through the process the 
majority party make certain that we address this as this bill moves 
forward.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes 
to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman for 
yielding me this time.
  I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start 
Act. I represent the majority of Suffolk County where 20 Head Start and 
three Early Head Start centers have been serving the community since 
1966. In fact, my wife's first job out of college was as a Head Start 
teacher in one of those centers.
  Parents, teachers and many of our colleagues can all agree that Head 
Start is one of our Nation's most prominent and successful early 
education programs. This bill continues to build on Head Start's 
successes by ensuring that kids are prepared for school, by improving 
teacher and classroom quality, strengthening the focus on school 
readiness, increasing accountability and boosting coordination.
  Research finds that children who attend Head Start enter school 
better prepared than low-income children who do not attend the program, 
and that children who attend Head Start make significant gains.
  If we are serious about achieving the goals set forth by No Child 
Left Behind, then passing Head Start reauthorization is a down payment 
on achieving those goals.

                              {time}  1530

  During the markup of this bill, I was proud to offer an amendment 
that would allow Head Start programs to use up to 10 percent of their 
quality improvement funds for transportation costs. This amendment was 
in response to concerns brought to me by my constituents that many have 
thought programs were being forced to choose between providing 
transportation to children or sacrificing the quality of their program.
  With my amendment and so many other worthwhile improvements to Head 
Start, I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this balanced 
reauthorization for the benefit of our children and future generations 
of America.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, we have no further speakers, and we reserve 
the balance of our time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes 
to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee).
  (Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I thank the chairman of the 
full committee for his leadership and all the members of the committee 
and Mr. Kildee for his leadership as well on some of these very 
important issues. We have worked together. I thank the ranking member 
for their long-standing understanding that we must collaborate when it 
comes to teaching our children.
  I rise to support H.R. 1429 and had the pleasure of visiting a Head 
Start facility in my community. What was the greatest joy was to be 
able to see the parents and children working together on this very 
special day, and I want to thank the committee for persevering against 
all odds, particularly the opposition of those who would say it is time 
to change drastically, to do a surgical reform on Head Start.
  It has worked for some 30-plus years, and what has been done in this 
legislation is the right direction: enhanced professional development, 
providing more degreed teachers teaching, providing opportunity for the 
associate degrees, working with caretakers or assistants in the 
classroom, and really

[[Page H4333]]

teaching our children the ``yes, I can'' method.
  I rise also to support the amendment of Congresswoman Eddie Bernice 
Johnson that will be offered that provides the opportunity for 
collaboration with historically black colleges.
  What we need to be doing is investing more in Head Start by proving 
that it has been a success, improving classroom and teacher quality, 
raising the quality of teachers, and increasing funding for teacher and 
staff salaries.
  But most importantly, anyone who has taken the opportunity to see the 
youngsters, the babies that are in this program, see their eyes open 
wide, see them understand the world and the colors and what is real and 
that they can be the greatness that they are, we know that H.R. 1429 is 
on the right path, and I encourage my colleagues to enthusiastically 
support the Improving Head Start Act of 2007. These are the babies not 
of yesterday, but today.
   Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1429, the Improving 
the Head Start Act of 2007. This bipartisan legislation would allow up 
to 10,000 more children from low-income families to have access to the 
world of opportunities offered by early developmental education. It 
also appropriates the funding required for a range of necessary 
improvements, ensuring we are offering our children comprehensive and 
regulated programs. I urge my colleagues to join me in expressing that 
a child's educational and developmental opportunities should not be 
limited by his or her family's income.
  Head Start creates opportunities for children who are born without 
any. This program provides comprehensive early education programs and 
support services for well over a million children across our Nation; 
children whose families would otherwise be unable to offer them these 
opportunities. The program's holistic approach to education provides a 
wide range of services in addition to basic education, including 
medical and dental screenings, nutritional services, parental 
involvement activities, and mental health services. Poverty has proven 
devastating to child development and success, but Head Start has proven 
capable of providing the broad range of support that all children need 
to succeed in school, and indeed in life.
  This program is particularly crucial to minority communities. Of the 
over 1 million children enrolled in Head Start programs, 65 percent 
belong to minority groups. In a world and a country where minority 
children may continue to face discrimination and limited opportunities, 
Head Start ensures that they are prepared to begin school when they 
reach the proper age. This program has proven successful in minimizing 
the ``readiness gap'' between program participants and their more 
affluent peers.
  In Harris County, TX, where my district is located, Head Start has 
been active since 1999. In this county alone, the program currently 
operates in 17 locations, and has served over 5,000 children since its 
inception. There are, at present, over 1,170 children enrolled in its 
wide array of programs. In Harris County, and across our Nation, Head 
Start programs help children grow mentally, socially, emotionally, and 
physically.
  This bill contains many vital provisions. It authorizes an additional 
$450 million dollars for 2008, funds that would allow up to 10,000 more 
children access to Head Start programs. It increases funding for 
teacher and staff salaries, ensuring a quality workforce and providing 
for the hiring of additional qualified staff. H.R. 1429 re-evaluates 
and updates the current standards and assessments, suspending the badly 
flawed National Reporting System. The bill also boosts cooperation 
between Head Start and state and local child care programs, as well as 
improving coordination with state health, mental health, and family 
services.
  This bill also contains important provisions to improve 
accountability for these government-funded programs. It includes a new 
system of application review that assesses program quality, allowing 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services to more quickly strip 
funding from low-quality programs. These review systems ensure both 
that our Nation's children are receiving the best services we can offer 
them, and that taxpayer dollars are spent to maximum effect.
  Mr. Chairman, as Chair of the Congressional Children's Caucus, I am 
dedicated to providing the best possible opportunities and support to 
our Nation's children. Head Start is an important aspect of ensuring 
our children's future. I strongly support H.R. 1429, and I encourage my 
colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle).
  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Chairman, just very briefly, we are about to pursue I 
think a dozen amendments here. All of us had a chance to work on this, 
had a chance to look at it. I think some of them are very good 
amendments. I think some are relatively neutral. I think some are maybe 
a little detrimental to the bill.
  I just hope that everybody will listen carefully to the amendments 
and will not end up being a party vote necessarily and we do what is in 
the best interests of these children that we have talked about so 
frequently in the last hour or so.
  There is real significance to some of these amendments. I think it is 
very, very important that we understand the context of them.
  I would just like to also finally say at the end that, in my 
judgment, if you look at any aspect of Head Start that this underlying 
legislation basically improves the opportunity for young children who 
are within the parameters of the Head Start program, and I hope that 
all of us will be supportive of that.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to 
the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Chairman, as we discuss this faith-based 
amendment, I think we need to seriously consider the long-term societal 
implications of that amendment, allowing discrimination in the Head 
Start program.
  Our Nation just went through quite a conversation when Don Imus made 
his remarks, and I would hope that that was just talking. We are 
actually going to do something in considering whether or not a program 
can deny an employment opportunity solely because of religion, and if 
you happen to go to an all-black or all-white church, the decision made 
on religion will deny you based on race as well.
  We should have this conversation here on the floor, considering what 
we are doing long-term, similar to the conversation we had when Don 
Imus embarrassed himself. We should not embarrass ourselves here on the 
floor of the House of Representatives. We need to maintain the civil 
rights protections for prospective employees that we have had for the 
last 40 years.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I thank my colleagues for a productive 
debate on the Improving Head Start Act. As many of us have noted 
throughout the day, Head Start is a good program that can be made even 
better, and that is why we are here. I hope everybody listened 
carefully to Mr. Castle as he talked about the importance of the 
upcoming amendments we are going to discuss because they can make the 
bill better.
  This program serves nearly 1 million underprivileged children and 
eases the divide between the haves and the have-nots when it comes to 
preparing them for kindergarten, which will give them a good start for 
their life. The bipartisan support we have seen for the bill today 
should lend all of us confidence that the program will remain on a 
solid foundation for generations to come.
  By reauthorizing Head Start, we are voting to build upon improvements 
that were made by the House Republicans in past Congresses by 
strengthening academic standards by emphasizing cognitive development 
using scientifically-based research; improving teacher quality by 
ensuring more Head Start teachers have bachelor degrees and are 
adequately trained in early childhood development; increasing financial 
disclosure requirements by Head Start operators as custodians of 
Federal Head Start grants; and requiring local governance boards to 
actively oversee grantees.
  These are common-sense reforms that I wholeheartedly support. That 
said, this bill remains flawed, and soon, we will turn to a number of 
amendments that highlight those flaws. One such amendment that we will 
not be able to discuss unfortunately is one offered to the Rules 
Committee by Mr. Fortuno yesterday. The Fortuno amendment is a 
principled one. It clearly protects the hiring privileges of faith-
based providers and protects their civil rights to display religious 
symbols, rights that are sheltered under the 1964 Civil Rights Act. 
Yet, we will not be able to debate and vote on it today, a major 
statement about the real priorities of this purportedly fair, open and 
honest Congress.
  Nonetheless, Mr. Chairman, I still believe the Improving Head Start 
Act is a worthy piece of legislation, deserving

[[Page H4334]]

of the same bipartisan support it received from the Education and Labor 
Committee just 2 months ago.
  Before I conclude, I would like to thank a number of current and 
former members of my staff who have made this bill possible. First, to 
Kate Houston, who no longer works on Capitol Hill, let alone on our 
committee staff. Years ago, Kate helped craft legislation that closely 
tracks the bill we are poised to pass today.
  Stephanie Milburn, who left our staff earlier this year to join Mr. 
Boehner's team, played an integral role in bringing this bill to where 
it is today, and I thank her as well.
  Finally, I thank Susan Ross and James Bergeron for their work in 
helping to bring this bill across the finish line.
  I have already mentioned thanks to Mr. Miller, Mr. Kildee, Mr. 
Castle, and I would like to thank their staff also for working with us 
so closely on this bill.
  The team effort that we have demonstrated on this issue, and our 
ability to work closely with our Democratic counterparts, yielded the 
product we are poised to vote on this afternoon.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such 
time as I may consume and just to thank my colleagues who joined in the 
general debate and for their support for this legislation and, again, 
to thank the staffs on both sides of the aisle of both the subcommittee 
and the full committee without whose work and effort and knowledge this 
legislation would not be in the kind of shape it is today, with the 
support that it has from both Republicans and Democrats for the Head 
Start bill.
  Mr. McDERMOTT. Mr. Chairman, I represent a community that honors the 
memory and civil rights legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. every 
day, because King County has adopted Dr. King's portrait as our symbol, 
and Dr. King's commitment to civil rights as our commitment to all the 
people in King County, Washington.
  So, it is with a unique responsibility that I rise to strongly oppose 
this Republican attempt to turn back the lock on civil rights in this 
Nation, beginning with the Head Start program. The Minority Leader, the 
leader and spokesman for the Republican Party in the House, wants us to 
legislate employment discrimination within Head Start based on 
religion. The Minority Leader wants to turn his back on civil rights, 
and turn back the clock on the struggle for freedom that Dr. King and 
so many others fought and died for.
  The Republican House leader apparently finds the First Amendment 
inconvenient for his taste. The First Amendment protects Americans from 
exactly the kind of foolish proposal before us today. Separation of 
Church and State is one of the fundamental principles within the First 
Amendment: ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of 
religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof . . .''
  We must not roll back civil rights in this Nation, not today, not 
tomorrow, and not ever, but that's what the I leader of the Republican 
party proposes. There is no reason to justify this attempt to roll back 
longstanding civil rights and religious liberty protections in a 
program that has benefited countless children over the years. In a 
nation like ours with so many religious traditions, built-in 
protections prohibiting religious discrimination in federally funded 
programs represents a fundamental commitment towards a society that 
values the contributions of people of all faiths.
  Religious organizations have had a long and proud history in Head 
Start programs, including in my own district of Seattle, where the YWCA 
is a Head Start provider. Civil rights protections have never been a 
bar to participation by these organizations. If these safeguards are 
repealed, thousands of dedicated Head Start teachers and parent 
volunteers could find themselves no longer welcome at some Head Start 
programs run by followers of other faiths.
  Religious organizations are free to engage in faith-based hiring when 
they use their own funds to promote their institutional ministry, but 
not when they use Federal money to educate our Nation's children. It 
would be wrong to permit religious organizations to use Federal dollars 
to discriminate on the basis of religion in running Head Start programs 
that are intended to benefit disadvantaged children of all faiths.
  On behalf of the people of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., County, in 
Washington State, I strongly oppose this amendment and urge my 
colleagues to vote ``No.''
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1429, the 
Improving Head Start Act of 2007.
  Mr. Chairman, for the last two Congresses we have successfully fought 
back the attempts by the then Republican leadership to cut funding, and 
to drastically change Head Start in ways that would prevent them from 
providing the services that our communities have come to depend on them 
for.
  Every week I meet with outstanding high school and college students 
who began their educational journey in Head Start. This bill provides 
additional funding so that more children would have the opportunities 
provided by this important program.
  H.R. 1429 also provides greater monitoring and accountability and 
increases funds for salaries and professional development.
  As amended it also provides loan forgiveness for Head Start teachers 
as a means to attract and retain some of the best teachers for this 
very vulnerable group of children.
  One thing this bill does not do is allow centers run by religious 
organizations to discriminate in their hiring.
  Mr. Chairman, this bill, together with H.R. 1867 is an important step 
forward in realizing the ``competitiveness agenda'' that you have laid 
out for us in the 110th Congress.
  I urge the passage of both bills.
  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1429, the 
Improving Head Start Act of 2007. Head Start is a program that has been 
crucial on the development and academic success of our children for 
more than 40 years.
  Since 1965, more than 24 million children have benefited from Head 
Start's comprehensive services and school readiness. Last year alone 
Head Start served about 900,000 children nationwide--over 98,000 
children in my home State of California and nearly 6,500 children, more 
than 60 percent Latino, in the 32nd Congressional District of 
California, which I represent.
  In addition to providing these comprehensive services, Head Start 
programs engage parents as partners in their children's education. 
Parents volunteer at their child's school site and many become Head 
Start teachers. Head Start has a proven track record of improving the 
lives of low-income children and families. It narrows the gap between 
disadvantaged children and all children in vocabulary and writing 
skills. It also leads to continued improvements in word knowledge, 
letter recognition, and math and writing skills relative to other 
children during their kindergarten year. 83 percent of Head Start 
children are at the national norm by the time they reach kindergarten.
  Studies also demonstrate that Head Start programs improve the well-
being of the children and families they serve, providing health and 
dental services to children and families who might otherwise not have 
them. Head Start programs benefit parents as well. Head Start parents 
report increases in education attainment and employment during their 
time affiliation with Head Start. In California, 24 percent of Head 
Start employees are or were Head Start parents. In addition, 86 percent 
of Head Start volunteers in California are current or former parents of 
the local Head Start program.
  The Improving Head Start Act of 2007, H.R. 1429, not updates this 
program so all children could be put in the road for academic success. 
It makes significant improvements that will help strengthen educational 
outcomes for students, ensure better coordination with local school 
districts, improve teacher quality, and increase program eligibility. 
It would help improve Head Start's workforce quality by increasing 
funding for teacher and staff salaries and professional development. 
This includes providing funds for training personnel in addressing the 
unique needs of migrant and seasonal working families, families of 
children with disabilities, limited english proficient families and 
homeless families. It will also expand access to up to 10,000 more 
children and will strengthen school readiness by re-evaluating and 
updating current standards and assessments based on best science.
  H.R. 1429 also reserves 5 percent of the total Head Start 
appropriation for the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program. This is 
important because the Migrant and Seasonal Head Start program serves 
some of the country's neediest working families and is designed to meet 
the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the children of 
farmworkers.
  At a time when America needs to be at the forefront of innovation and 
education, programs like Head Start are an investment in our future 
workforce and their success. I applaud the members of the Committee on 
Education and Labor for their work on the reauthorization of this 
important program. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of H.R. 1429 
and to oppose any proposal that would block this grant program or would 
allow government-funded religious discrimination in Head Start 
programs. Supporting this bill is supporting our Nation's future.
  Mr. TERRY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1429, the 
Improving Head Start Act of 2007.
  This bipartisan legislation will benefit nearly one million 
disadvantaged children nationwide

[[Page H4335]]

by expanding Head Start's focus on school readiness. Low-income 
children will be taught key early learning skills such as alphabet, 
number, color and shape recognition to help them succeed in their 
school years.
  This bill also opens poor-performing Head Start programs to greater 
public scrutiny and needful competition. Triennial program reviews by 
the Federal government and independent investigation by the Government 
Accountability Office have revealed that some Head Start programs 
operate with Federal tax dollars despite chronic financial 
mismanagement, health and safety concerns, and poor community 
involvement.
  H.R. 1429 would help remedy this situation by requiring Head Start 
programs to demonstrate active partnerships with local school districts 
to ensure smooth transitions for children into kindergarten. Poor-
performing programs would be opened to competition every 5 years. 
Annual disclosures of financial information and greater participation 
of parents in the decisions of Head Start governing boards will also 
make a difference.
  I have personally seen the benefits of partnering local school 
districts with Head Start. Several years ago, a long-standing Head 
Start program serving 1,000 children in Douglas County, Nebraska was 
transferred to the control of the Omaha Public School District to end 
long-standing financial mismanagement and safety concerns for children.
  Omaha Public Schools went the extra mile by partnering with EduCare, 
an outstanding private preschool program that involves the entire 
family, emphasizes best practices, and focuses on early learning skills 
to help disadvantaged children succeed in school and life.
  EduCare was created by Susie Buffett and currently serves 239 
children from Omaha families living below the poverty level. Families 
must either work, be in job training, or attending school to qualify. 
Enrollment is free, with costs covered by the Nebraska Department of 
Education, Omaha Public Schools, the Department of Health and Human 
Services and private sources.
  EduCare has a low child-to-adult ratio: three infants per adult, and 
six preschoolers per adult. Bachelor level staff members are trained in 
early childhood education, and the program contains strong academic 
components to help children succeed in school, including limited 
english proficiency children.
  Buffett has said: ``We look at the whole entire family, not just the 
child.'' Parents are directed to community resources to improve home 
life, such as food shelters and Christmas toy drives. Single mothers 
are helped with transportation and job searches.
  Prelimary evaluation data indicates that the EduCare program is 
making a significant difference in the lives of children. Upon entering 
the program, children's language, literacy and social emotional areas 
of development are assessed. Most children initially score in the 
borderline range of development. Annual assessment results have shown 
the majority of participating children gained more vocabulary words in 
the course of the school year than one would expect based on maturity.

  By the time they transitioned to kindergarten, EduCare's children 
were scoring very close to the national average. Standardized 
assessments of children's literacy and kindergarten readiness skills 
show similar results. Because research has shown children's vocabulary 
and pre-literacy skills to predict later school success, every Head 
Start program should help children reach such strong learning potential 
while addressing the short and long-term needs of the child's family. 
EduCare is an incredible success story in the lives of low-income 
children.
  I also want to draw the attention of my colleagues to a provision of 
this bill to protect Head Start for children of military families. The 
privatization of military housing created an artificial raise in a 
military family's income, making their children ineligible for Head 
Start. H.R. 1429 would disregard the Basic Housing Allowance from a 
family's income when determining Head Start eligibility. Servicemembers 
protecting our freedom need not worry about their children's continued 
access to Head Start.
  Mr. Chairman, I hope we can go even further in the future to 
strengthen the academic emphasis in Head Start and give states and 
excellent programs such as EduCare a greater ability to improve the 
lives of low-income children and their families. H.R. 1429 makes good 
progress in this direction.
  Mr. STARK. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the 
Improving Head Start Act of 2007 (H.R. 1429).
  Since 1965, Head Start has served millions of low-income families and 
helped children prepare for school. It is an essential program and one 
whose success has a major impact on children, their families, their 
community, and ultimately the future of our country. We owe it to our 
children to pass this bill and make improvements that strengthen and 
grow the Head Start program.
  Scientific research shows us that 80 percent of brain development 
occurs by age 3 and 90 percent by age 5. Studies also show that 
education achievement gaps between poor and minority students and 
affluent and non-minority students are already in place when children 
begin elementary school. These achievement gaps, once in place, tend to 
persist and are exceedingly difficult to remedy. Head Start and Early 
Head Start are effective in closing achievement gaps and foster both 
short and long-term success in participating children.
  In addition to preparing children for success in school, recent 
research clearly demonstrates that children enrolled in Early Head 
Start and their parents realize other very significant gains. Early 
Head Start children show better approaches to learning, demonstrate 
more appropriate language acquisition, and exhibit less aggressive 
behavior. Early Head Start parents create a stronger home environment 
with more parent-child reading and a greater repertoire of discipline 
strategies. Early Head Start parents also show significant progress 
toward economic self-sufficiency. These impacts are significant and 
result in children with increased linguistic, cognitive, social and 
emotional competence. What better investment could we be making for our 
children?
  Unlike programs dreamed up by ideologues in the Bush Administration 
like ``abstinence only education'' and ``marriage promotion,'' we know 
that Head Start works. Unfortunately, less than half of eligible 
children are enrolled in Head Start. Even worse, less than 5 percent of 
eligible infants and toddlers are enrolled in Early Head Start.
  If we are serious about providing all children with an opportunity to 
succeed in school and in life, we must expand Head Start and 
particularly Early Head Start. This bill is a step in that direction. 
It will more than double the amount of money available to Early Head 
Start programs. The bill will also expand services to infants and 
toddlers that are so crucial to child development, but often difficult 
for parents to access. In addition, the Improving Head Start Act will 
increase eligibility levels so that children from families making up to 
130 percent of the Federal poverty level can participate. This change 
is especially important in areas of the country with high costs of 
living, including my district where the poverty threshold is well below 
what it actually costs a family to live.
  This bill's expansion of Early Head Start and Head Start should be 
applauded. We cannot lose sight, however, that these programs only 
address the tip of the iceberg. This Congress must focus more of our 
attention on all children birth to age 5 and guarantee that all 
families have access to high quality comprehensive early care and 
education programs. This is an investment that our country must make if 
we are serious about giving all of our children a chance at the 
American dream.
  Despite the strong bipartisan support for this legislation, the White 
House has indicated that the President does not support this 
legislation as written unless we insert a special interest provision 
for the religious right. The President and many Republicans want to 
allow religious organizations to discriminate in their hiring 
practices. Religious organizations have been Head Start providers since 
the program was established and have done quite well playing by the 
same rules that prohibit all employers from discriminating. Pandering 
rhetoric and veiled threats from the White House will not improve the 
life of a single family.
  In closing, I hope that all of my colleagues will see the importance 
of investing in our children and supporting families. I urge a ``yes'' 
vote on this legislation and a ``no'' vote on Republican attempts to 
turn this into a vehicle for religious discrimination.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of this legislation.
  Head Start has proven its ability to improve the lives of 
disadvantaged children. Numerous studies have demonstrated that 
children who attend Head Start come to school more prepared than 
children who do not participate, and that these effects last over a 
period of years.
  I have personal experience with the program--my wife, Michelle, was a 
Head Start teacher for 7 years in Oregon. In her classes, I saw the 
children of janitors and security guards.
  Their parents worked in the sparkling towers of downtown Portland, 
but they themselves never got to visit downtown, except in their Head 
Start field trips.
  The Improving Head Start Act makes several needed changes to current 
law. It ends the use of the National Reporting System--a flawed testing 
system that has tested over 500,000 4-year-olds, despite strong 
opposition by child development experts.
  The bill also improves current law by making clear that Head Start 
agencies must establish and maintain a formal structure of shared 
governance with parent policy councils. This will codify in law that 
parents have the ability to shape and share a role in the success of 
their local Head Start program.

[[Page H4336]]

  Finally, the bill authorizes $7.35 billion in funding for the program 
in FY08--an increase of over $400 million from this year's level.
  Oregon's Department of Education reports that, as of January 2007, 
43.2 percent of eligible children cannot participate in the program due 
to lack of funding. Head Start is a highly successful program, and it 
ultimately costs all of us when those eligible cannot participate.
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in 
strong support of the Head Start Program and I am encouraged by H.R. 
1429, the Head Start Improvement Act of 2007.
  I am a Head Start kid. I have firsthand experience of the 
comprehensive education programs and opportunities that Head Start 
provides to low-income families.
  Head Start programs promote school readiness by assisting with the 
social and cognitive development of young children. Research 
consistently identifies the early years of a child's development as 
ever more crucial to the child's lifetime success.
  Many Head Start programs already try to incorporate new research into 
their strategies through education, health, nutrition, and social 
services. This bill ensures that local Head Start programs have the 
resources to undertake the best practices for furthering a child's 
development.
  Head Start is about the family. As I received education and health 
services, my mother learned valuable lessons on how to become a more 
active and involved parent in America's public school system.
  I am glad to see that this bill maintains the existing shared 
governance structure to help empower parents and allow programs to be 
responsive to local needs.
  What's more, this bill is good for Head Start teachers. This bill 
takes the necessary steps to ensure that Head Start teachers' salaries 
and professional development are in line with the responsibility that 
we assign to them.
  The Head Start Improvement Act of 2007 is a good bill that will keep 
Head Start strong so it can remain the great program that it was for 
me, and continues to be for so many Americans.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support the Improving 
Head Start Act, a bill that will strengthen our nation's premiere early 
childhood education program and expand its services to thousands more 
children across the country.
  Head Start has been improving lives and increasing opportunities for 
children and families for more than 40 years. With this important 
program, we teach our children that they can succeed, regardless of 
background or family income. We open doors to millions and prepare them 
for future success in school and careers.
  This bill provides much-needed amendments to Head Start that will 
improve workforce quality by increasing funding for staff salaries and 
professional development, and enhance coordination between early 
education and primary schools. It also strengthens standards and 
accountability to ensure that our children are getting the best quality 
care and education.
  I am also pleased that this House defeated a divisive and misguided 
motion that would, for the first time, legitimize publicly funded 
religious discrimination in the Head Start program. It would have given 
taxpayer money to Head Start centers and allow those centers to exclude 
taxpayers from jobs solely on the basis of their religious beliefs. It 
would be a green light for religious bigotry. Its passage would have 
been bad for education and bad for religion and I joined the National 
Head Start Association, the Interfaith Alliance, and countless other 
secular and religious advocates of the Head Start Program in opposing 
it. I am glad that we have a clean bill to pass today.
  I also urge my colleagues to not only vote for this bill, but to 
continue to advocate for Head Start by supporting full funding for the 
program. It is not enough to pass the legislation--we need to give our 
communities the resources they need to carry out our mandates.
  I thank Chairman Miller, Chairman Kildee and the Committee on 
Education and Labor for their work on this important legislation, and 
urge its final passage today.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Improving 
Head Start Act of 2007. Over and over again, rigorous evaluations have 
shown that Head Start and Early Head Start works. It improves the lives 
of our neediest children and families.
  I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the bill at hand, as it 
makes several positive changes to the Head Start program. It authorizes 
$450 million new dollars to the program, which is enough to provide up 
to 10,000 new spots for children. It prioritizes program improvement by 
increasing funding for teacher and staff salaries and professional 
development. It suspends the National Reporting System, which is a 
flawed testing system that does not adequately assess this 
comprehensive system.
  Science has shown that providing a quality early education experience 
leads to healthy brain development that prepares children for success 
in school, as well as later in life. Access to high quality early 
education, as well as to wrap around, comprehensive services, really 
sets the foundation for children and their parents.
  I urge my colleagues to support this strong, bipartisan bill. It will 
directly improve the lives of many, many children and families.
  Mrs. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act of 2007. Since 1965, the Head 
Start early childhood education program has provided low-income 
children with comprehensive child development, educational, health, 
nutritional, and social activities to ensure that they are ready to 
enter kindergarten on an equal playing field with other children. H.R. 
1429 will expand and improve the successful Head Start program, which 
research has shown works in raising children's achievement.
  I want to thank Representatives Kildee, Castle and Chairman Miller 
for their outstanding leadership on this bipartisan bill, which would 
allow as many as 10,000 more children to access the benefits Head 
Start. It improves classroom and teacher quality, raising the 
qualifications of teachers and increasing funding for teacher and staff 
salaries and professional development. The bill also includes strong 
accountability measures to better ensure that Head Start funds are used 
appropriately and efficiently and that underperforming programs are 
either replaced or quickly improved.
  As a former educator, I understand the importance of closing the 
school-readiness gap and ensuring that all children can start their 
education on an equal playing field. Today, we have the opportunity to 
pass a bill that will make great strides toward just that.
  Ms. LEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the amendment 
offered to the Head Start reauthorization bill by my friend and 
colleague from Texas, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson.
  This amendment would encourage partnerships with Historically Black 
Colleges and Universities and Head Start.
  This amendment builds on the important step that the underlying bill 
takes. That is, H.R. 1429 will require that fifty percent of Head Start 
teachers have a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education by 2013.
  This amendment would create a partnership between the Secretary of 
HHS and HBCU's to meet the new degree requirements. It would require 
those who benefit from this partnership to teach at a Head Start 
program for a period of time equivalent to the time they received 
assistance.
  This is a significant amendment not only because it will provide 
students with qualified teachers in their classrooms, it will also set 
a good example for these students. In fact, evidence suggests that 
students who attend early childhood programs have a better chance of 
success later in life. In an article published in the Developmental 
Psychology journal of the American Psychological Association in 2005 
showed that children in Early Head Start had better test scores, had 
better cognitive and language development. These children also showed 
less aggressive behavior then non-early Head Start children, which goes 
towards improving the overall environment of our elementary and 
secondary schools.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the underlying 
bill.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired.
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment under the 5-minute rule and shall be considered 
read.
  The text of the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute is 
as follows:

                               H.R. 1429

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Improving Head Start Act of 
     2007''.

     SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

       Section 636 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 636. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.

       ``It is the purpose of this subchapter to promote the 
     school readiness of low-income children--
       ``(1) by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional 
     development in a learning environment that supports 
     children's growth in language, literacy, mathematics, 
     science, social and emotional functioning, physical skills, 
     and approaches to learning; and
       ``(2) through the provision to low-income children and 
     their families of health, educational, nutritional, social, 
     and other services that are

[[Page H4337]]

     determined, based on family needs assessments, to be 
     necessary.''.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       Section 637 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9832) is 
     amended--
       (1) by redesignating paragraphs (16) and (17) as paragraphs 
     (22) and (23), respectively,
       (2) by redesignating paragraph (15) as paragraph (20), 
     respectively,
       (3) by redesignating paragraphs (11) through (14) as 
     paragraphs (15) through (18), respectively,
       (4) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (13),
       (5) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (9) as 
     paragraphs (3) through (10), respectively,
       (6) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) The term `deficiency' means--
       ``(A) systemic or significant material failure of a Head 
     Start agency in an area of performance that the Secretary 
     determines involves--
       ``(i) a threat to the health, safety, or civil rights of 
     children or staff;
       ``(ii) a denial to parents of the exercise of their full 
     roles and responsibilities related to program governance;
       ``(iii) a failure to perform the requirements of section 
     641A(a), as determined by the Secretary;
       ``(iv) the misuse of funds received under this subchapter;
       ``(v) loss of legal status (as determined by the Secretary) 
     or financial viability, loss of permits, debarment from 
     receiving Federal grants or contracts, or the improper use of 
     Federal funds; or
       ``(vi) failure to meet any other of Federal or State 
     requirement; or
       ``(B) material failure of the board of directors of a Head 
     Start agency to meet its legal and fiduciary 
     responsibilities.'',
       (7) by inserting after paragraph (10), as so redesignated 
     the following:
       ``(11) The term `homeless children' has the meaning given 
     such term in section 725(2) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11434a(2)).
       ``(12) The term `homeless family' means the family of a 
     homeless child.'',
       (8) by inserting after paragraph (13), as so redesignated 
     the following:
       ``(14) The terms `limited English proficient' and `limited 
     English proficiency' mean with respect to an individual, that 
     such individual--
       ``(A)(i) was not born in the United States or has a native 
     language that is not English;
       ``(ii)(I) is a Native American, an Alaska Native, or a 
     native resident of a territory or possession of the United 
     States; and
       ``(II) comes from an environment in which a language that 
     is not English has had a significant impact on such 
     individual's level of English language proficiency; or
       ``(iii) is migratory, has a native language that is not 
     English, and comes from an environment in which a language 
     that is not English is dominant; and
       ``(B) has difficulty in speaking or understanding the 
     English language to an extent that may be sufficient to 
     prevent such individual from--
       ``(i) successful achievement in classrooms in which the 
     language of instruction is English; or
       ``(ii) fully participating in society.'',
       (9) by inserting after paragraph (18), as so redesignated 
     the following:
       ``(19) The term `professional development' means high 
     quality activities that will improve the knowledge and skills 
     of Head Start teachers and staff, as relevant to their roles 
     and functions, in program administration and the provision of 
     services and instruction, as appropriate, in a manner that 
     improves service delivery to eligible children and families, 
     including activities that--
       ``(A) are part of a sustained effort to improve overall 
     program quality and outcomes for eligible children and 
     families;
       ``(B) are developed or selected with extensive 
     participation of administrators and teachers from Head Start 
     programs;
       ``(C) are developmentally appropriate for the children 
     being served;
       ``(D) include instruction in ways that Head Start personnel 
     may work more effectively with parents, as appropriate;
       ``(E) are designed to give teachers and staff the knowledge 
     and skills to provide instruction and appropriate support 
     services to children of diverse backgrounds, as appropriate;
       ``(F) if a 1-day or short-term workshop or conference, must 
     be as part of the professional development plan defined in 
     section 648A(f) and be delivered by an institution of higher 
     education or other entity with expertise in delivering 
     training in early childhood development, family support, and 
     other assistance designed to improve the delivery of Head 
     Start services;
       ``(G) assist teachers with--
       ``(i) the acquisition of the content knowledge and teaching 
     strategies needed to provide effective instruction and other 
     school readiness services in early language and literacy, 
     early mathematics, early science, cognitive skills, 
     approaches to learning, creative arts, science, physical 
     health and development, and social and emotional development 
     linked to school readiness;
       ``(ii) meeting the requirements in paragraphs (1) and (2) 
     of section 648A(a), as appropriate;
       ``(iii) improving classroom management skills, as 
     appropriate;
       ``(iv) advancing understanding of effective instructional 
     strategies that are--

       ``(I) based on scientifically based research; and
       ``(II) aligned with--

       ``(aa) the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework developed by 
     the Secretary and State early learning standards, as 
     appropriate; and
       ``(bb) the curricula, ongoing assessments, and other 
     instruction and services designed to help meet the standards 
     described in section 641A(a)(1);
       ``(v) acquiring the knowledge and skills to provide 
     instruction and appropriate language and support services to 
     increase the English language skills of limited English 
     proficient children, as appropriate; or
       ``(vi) methods of teaching children with disabilities, as 
     appropriate.'',
       (10) by inserting after paragraph (20), as so redesignated, 
     the following:
       ``(21) The term `scientifically based research'--
       ``(A) means research that involves the application of 
     rigorous, systematic and objective procedures to obtain 
     reliable and valid knowledge relevant to education activities 
     and programs; and
       ``(B) includes research that--
       ``(i) employs systematic, empirical methods that draw on 
     observation or experiment;
       ``(ii) involves rigorous data analyses that are adequate to 
     test the stated hypotheses and justify the general 
     conclusions drawn;
       ``(iii) relies on measurements or observational methods 
     that provide reliable and valid data across evaluators and 
     observers, across multiple measurements and observations, and 
     across studies by the same or different investigators;
       ``(iv) is evaluated using experimental or quasi-
     experimental designs in which individuals, entities, programs 
     or activities are assigned to different conditions and with 
     appropriate controls to evaluate the effects of the condition 
     of interest, with a preference for random assignment 
     experiments, or other designs to the extent that those 
     designs contain within-condition or across-condition 
     controls;
       ``(v) ensures that experimental studies are presented in 
     sufficient detail and clarity to allow for replication or, at 
     a minimum, offer the opportunity to build systematically on 
     their findings; and
       ``(vi) has been accepted by a peer-reviewed journal or 
     approved by a panel of independent experts through a 
     comparably rigorous, objective, and scientific review.'', and
       (11) by amending paragraph (23), as so redesignated, to 
     read as follows:
       ``(23) The term `State' means a State, the Commonwealth of 
     Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa, 
     the Virgin Islands of the United States, the Commonwealth of 
     the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of Palau.''.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       Section 639 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9834) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 639. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out this subchapter $7,350,000,000 for fiscal year 
     2008 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2009 
     through 2012.
       ``(b) Specific Programs.--From the amount appropriated 
     under subsection (a), the Secretary shall make available to 
     carry out research, demonstration, and evaluation activities 
     (including longitudinal studies under section 649) not more 
     than $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be 
     necessary for each of fiscal the years 2009 through 2012, of 
     which not more than $7,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 
     2008 through 2012 shall be available to carry out impact 
     studies under section 649(g).''.

     SEC. 5. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS; LIMITATION ON ASSISTANCE.

       (a) Allotment of Funds.--Section 640(a) of the Head Start 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(a)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(a) Allotment of Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--Of the funds appropriated under section 
     639, the Secretary shall allot such amounts in accordance 
     with paragraphs (2) through (4), and subject to paragraphs 
     (5) and (6).
       ``(2) Thirteen percent set-aside.--The Secretary shall 
     reserve 13 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal 
     year for use in accordance with the following order of 
     priorities:
       ``(A) Special populations.--For Indian Head Start programs, 
     services for children with disabilities, and migrant and 
     seasonal Head Start programs, except that--
       ``(i) there shall be made available for each fiscal year 
     for use by Indian Head Start programs and by migrant and 
     seasonal Head Start programs, on a nationwide basis, not less 
     than the amount that was obligated for use by Indian Head 
     Start programs and by migrant and seasonal Head Start 
     programs for fiscal year 2007;
       ``(ii) migrant and seasonal Head Start programs shall 
     receive not less than 5 percent of the amount appropriated 
     for each fiscal year until such time as the Secretary can 
     make funding decisions to ensure access to funding for 
     eligible children of migrant and seasonal farmworkers is 
     comparable to access to funding for other eligible children 
     based on the data collected and reported pursuant to section 
     648(l), except that no future reduction in funding shall 
     result in the termination of Head Start services provided to 
     any eligible child 3 years of age or older who is 
     participating in any such program on the date a reduction in 
     funding occurs, and shall, to the extent possible, continue 
     participation for children less than 3 years of age receiving 
     services before such reduction in funding; and
       ``(iii) Indian Head Start programs shall receive not less 
     than 3.5 percent of the amount appropriated for each fiscal 
     year until such time as the Secretary can make funding 
     decisions to ensure access to funding for eligible Indian 
     children is comparable to access to funding for other 
     eligible children based on the data collected in accordance 
     with the requirements of section 648(k), except that no 
     future reduction in funding shall result in the termination 
     of Head Start services provided to any eligible child 3 years 
     of age or older who is participating in any such program on 
     the date a reduction in funding occurs, and shall, to the 
     extent possible,

[[Page H4338]]

     continue participation for children less than 3 years of age 
     receiving services before such reduction in funding.
       ``(B) Payments to territories and freely associated 
     states.--Subject to paragraph (7), for payments to Guam, 
     American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
     Islands, the Virgin Islands of the United States, and the 
     Republic of Palau, except that payments to the Republic of 
     Palau shall not be made after fiscal year 2009.
       ``(C) Training and technical assistance.--Not less than 2 
     percent of the amount appropriated for such fiscal year for 
     training and technical assistance activities to foster 
     program quality and management improvement as described in 
     section 648, of which--
       ``(i) not less than 50 percent shall be available to local 
     Head Start agencies to make program improvements identified 
     by such agencies to use for the training and technical 
     assistance activities described in section 648(j);
       ``(ii) not less than 30 percent shall be available to the 
     Secretary to support a State-based system or a national 
     system, in the case of migrant and seasonal Head Start and 
     Indian Head Start programs, of early childhood education 
     training and technical assistance to local Head Start 
     agencies as described in section 648(n); and
       ``(iii) the remainder of such amount shall be available to 
     the Secretary to assist local Head Start agencies in meeting 
     and exceeding the standards described in section 641A(a)(1), 
     including financial assistance to help Head Start programs 
     address weaknesses identified by monitoring activities 
     conducted by the Secretary under section 641A(c), except 
     that--

       ``(I) not less than $3,000,000 shall be available to carry 
     out the activities described in section 648(c)(4); and
       ``(II) no more than $5,000,000 shall be reserved to carry 
     out the activities described in section 642B(b).

       ``(D) Monitoring and terminations.--For discretionary 
     payments made by the Secretary, including payments for all 
     costs (other than compensation of Federal employees) of 
     reviews of Head Start agencies, programs under section 
     641A(c), and of activities carried out under paragraph (1), 
     (2), or (3) of section 641A(d) related to correcting 
     deficiencies and conducting proceedings to terminate the 
     designation of Head Start agencies.
       ``(E) Research.--For payments for research, demonstration, 
     and evaluation activities under section 649.
     No funds reserved under this paragraph or paragraph (3) may 
     be combined with funds appropriated under any other Act if 
     the purpose of combining funds is to make a single 
     discretionary grant or a single discretionary payment, unless 
     such funds appropriated under this subchapter are separately 
     identified in such grant or payment and are used for the 
     purposes of this subchapter.
       ``(3) Quality improvement funds.--
       ``(A) Determination of funds.--
       ``(i) For each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012, to 
     provide assistance for activities specified in subparagraph 
     (B), the Secretary shall reserve, from the amount (if any) by 
     which the funds appropriated under section 639(a) for a 
     fiscal year exceed the adjusted prior year appropriation, a 
     share equal to the sum of--

       ``(I) 60 percent of such excess amount; and
       ``(II) any additional part of such excess amount the 
     Secretary may find necessary to address a demonstrated need 
     for such activities.

       ``(ii) As used in clause (i), the term `adjusted prior year 
     appropriation' means, with respect to a fiscal year, the 
     amount appropriated under section 639(a) for the preceding 
     fiscal year, adjusted to reflect the percentage change in the 
     Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (issued by the 
     Bureau of Labor Statistics) during such preceding fiscal 
     year.
       ``(B) Quality improvement activities.--Funds reserved under 
     this paragraph shall be used to carry out the following 
     activities:
       ``(i) Not less than one-fourth of the amount reserved under 
     this paragraph, to improve the compensation, salary scales, 
     and benefit standards of educational staff, family service 
     workers, and child counselors, as described in sections 
     644(a) and 653, to ensure that salary levels and benefits are 
     adequate to attract and retain qualified staff for such 
     programs.
       ``(ii) Providing on-going professional development to 
     teachers that improves their understanding of child 
     development, content knowledge, and appropriate teaching 
     strategies needed to provide effective instruction and other 
     school readiness services in the areas of early language and 
     literacy, early mathematics, cognitive skills, approaches to 
     learning, creative arts, science, physical health and 
     development, and social and emotional development.
       ``(iii) Improving the qualifications and skills of 
     educational personnel to meet the professional standards 
     established under section 648A(a)(1), including providing 
     assistance to complete postsecondary course work, subject to 
     section 648A(a)(2)(D).
       ``(iv) Ensuring that the physical environments of Head 
     Start programs are conducive to providing effective program 
     services to children and families, and are accessible to 
     children with disabilities and other individuals with 
     disabilities.
       ``(v) Employing additional qualified classroom staff 
     necessary to reduce the child to teacher ratio in the 
     classroom and family to staff ratio for family services 
     workers.
       ``(vi) Ensuring that such programs have qualified staff 
     that can promote language skills and literacy growth of 
     children and that can provide children with a variety of 
     skills that have been identified, through scientifically 
     based reading research, as predictive of later reading 
     achievement.
       ``(vii) Increasing hours of program operation, including--

       ``(I) conversion of part-day to full-day; and
       ``(II) number of weeks operated in a calendar year.

       ``(viii) Improving the compensation and benefits of staff 
     of Head Start agencies in order to improve the quality of 
     Head Start programs.
       ``(ix) Transportation costs associated with transporting 
     Head Start children safely, except that--

       ``(I) no more than ten percent of funds under this 
     paragraph may be used for such purposes;
       ``(II) a Head Start agency shall demonstrate efforts to 
     leverage the costs of transportation through collaboration 
     with other entities; and
       ``(III) a Head Start agency shall submit information to the 
     Secretary describing how such use of funds is necessary to 
     prevent reduction or termination of transportation services 
     or, in the case of a Head Start agency serving a rural 
     community, how such use of funds is necessary to improve 
     services to such community.

       ``(C) Allocation.--
       ``(i) Funds reserved under subparagraph (A) shall be 
     allotted by the Secretary as follows:

       ``(I) 80 percent of such funds shall be allotted among the 
     States in the same proportion as the Secretary allots funds 
     among the States under paragraph (4) for the respective 
     fiscal year.
       ``(II) 20 percent of such funds shall be allotted among the 
     States, geographical areas specified in subsection (a)(2)(B) 
     and Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head 
     Start programs, and used to make grants to Head Start 
     agencies, at the discretion of the Secretary.

       ``(ii) Funds allotted under clause (i) shall be used by the 
     Secretary to make grants to Head Start agencies that receive 
     grants from funds allotted under paragraph (4) for such 
     fiscal year, in such amounts as the Secretary considers to be 
     appropriate, for expenditure for activities specified in 
     subparagraph (B).
       ``(iii) Funds received under this subparagraph shall be 
     used to supplement, not to supplant, funds received under 
     paragraph (2) or (4).
       ``(4) Grant distribution.--Subject to section 639(b), the 
     Secretary shall allot the remaining amounts appropriated in 
     each fiscal year among the States, in accordance with latest 
     satisfactory data so that--
       ``(A) each State receives an amount which is equal to the 
     amount the State received for fiscal year 2007; and
       ``(B) any amount available after all allotments are made 
     under subparagraph (A) for such fiscal year shall be 
     distributed proportionately on the basis of the number of 
     children less than 5 years of age from families whose income 
     is below the poverty line.

     For purposes of this paragraph, for each fiscal year the 
     Secretary shall use the most recent data available on the 
     number of children less than 5 years of age from families 
     whose income is below the poverty line, as published by the 
     Department of Commerce, unless the Secretary and the 
     Secretary of Commerce determine that use of the most recent 
     data available would be inappropriate or unreliable. If the 
     Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce determine that some 
     or all of the data referred to in this paragraph are 
     inappropriate or unreliable, the Secretaries shall issue a 
     report setting forth their reasons in detail.
       ``(5) Collaboration grants.--
       ``(A) From amounts reserved and allotted under paragraph 
     (4), the Secretary shall award the collaboration grants 
     described in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D).
       ``(B)(i) From the reserved sums, the Secretary shall award 
     upon submission of a written request, a collaboration grant 
     to each State and to each national administrative office 
     serving Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal 
     Head Start programs to facilitate collaboration between Head 
     Start agencies and entities (including the State or national 
     administrative office) that carry out other activities 
     designed to benefit low-income families and children from 
     birth to school entry. The national administrative offices 
     shall use the funds made available through the grants to 
     carry out the authorities and responsibilities described in 
     subparagraphs (B) and (C).
       ``(ii) Grants described in clause (i) shall be used to--
       ``(I) assist Head Start agencies to collaborate with 
     entities involved in State and local planning processes to 
     better meet the needs of low-income families and children 
     from birth to school entry;
       ``(II) assist Head Start agencies to coordinate activities 
     with the State agency responsible for administering the State 
     program carried out under the Child Care and Development 
     Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) and entities 
     providing resource and referral services in the State, to 
     make full-working-day and full calendar year services 
     available to children;
       ``(III) promote alignment of Head Start curricula and 
     continuity of services with the Head Start Child Outcomes 
     Framework and State early learning standards, as appropriate;
       ``(IV) promote better linkages between Head Start agencies 
     and other child and family agencies, including agencies that 
     provide health, mental health, or family services, or other 
     child or family supportive services, such as services 
     provided under section 619 or part C of the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.); 
     and
       ``(V) carry out the activities of the State Director of 
     Head Start Collaboration authorized in subparagraph (D).
       ``(C) In order to improve coordination and delivery of 
     early education services to children in the State, a State 
     that receives a collaboration grant under subparagraph (B) 
     shall--
       ``(i) appoint or designate an individual to serve as, or 
     carry out the responsibilities of, the State Director of Head 
     Start Collaboration;
       ``(ii) ensure that the State Director of Head Start 
     Collaboration holds a position with sufficient authority and 
     access to ensure that the collaboration described in 
     subparagraph (B) is

[[Page H4339]]

     effective and involves a range of State agencies; and
       ``(iii) involve the State Head Start Association in the 
     selection of the Director and involve the Association in 
     determinations relating to the ongoing direction of the 
     collaboration office.
       ``(D) The State Director of Head Start Collaboration 
     shall--
       ``(i) not later than 1 year after the State receives a 
     collaboration grant under subparagraph (B), conduct an 
     assessment that--

       ``(I) addresses the needs of Head Start agencies in the 
     State with respect to collaboration, coordination, and 
     alignment of services, and alignment of curricula and 
     assessments with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework, and 
     with State early learning standards, as appropriate;
       ``(II) shall be updated on an annual basis; and
       ``(III) shall be made available to the general public 
     within the State;

       ``(ii) develop a strategic plan that is based on the 
     assessment described in clause (i) that will--

       ``(I) enhance collaboration and coordination of Head Start 
     services with other entities providing early childhood 
     programs and services (such as child care or services offered 
     by museums), health care, mental health care, welfare, child 
     protective services, education and community service 
     activities, family literacy services, reading readiness 
     programs (including such programs offered by public and 
     school libraries), services relating to children with 
     disabilities, other early childhood programs and services for 
     limited English proficient children and homeless children, 
     and services provided for children in foster care and 
     children referred to Head Start programs by child welfare 
     agencies, including agencies and State officials responsible 
     for such services;
       ``(II) assist Head Start agencies to develop a plan for the 
     provision of full-working-day, full calendar year services 
     for children enrolled in Head Start programs who need such 
     care;
       ``(III) assist Head Start agencies to align curricula and 
     assessments with the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework and 
     to the State early learning standards, as appropriate; and
       ``(IV) enable Head Start agencies in the State to better 
     access professional development opportunities for Head Start 
     staff, such as by--

       ``(aa) working with local Head Start agencies to meet the 
     degree requirements described in section 648A(a)(2)(A), 
     including providing distance learning opportunities for Head 
     Start staff, where needed to make higher education more 
     accessible to Head Start staff; and
       ``(bb) enabling the State Head Start agencies to better 
     conduct outreach to eligible families;
       ``(iii) promote partnerships between Head Start agencies, 
     State and local governments, and the private sector to help 
     ensure that children, who are in Head Start programs, are 
     receiving comprehensive services to prepare the children to 
     enter school ready to succeed;
       ``(iv) consult with the chief State school officer, local 
     educational agencies, and providers of early childhood 
     education and care, regarding early care and education 
     services at both the State and local levels;
       ``(v) promote partnerships between Head Start agencies, 
     schools, law enforcement, relevant community-based 
     organizations, and substance abuse and mental health 
     treatment agencies to strengthen family and community 
     environments and to reduce the impact on child development of 
     substance abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, and other 
     high risk behaviors that compromise healthy development;
       ``(vi) promote partnerships between Head Start agencies and 
     other organizations in order to enhance Head Start program 
     quality, including partnerships to promote inclusion of more 
     books in Head Start classrooms;
       ``(vii) identify other resources and organizations (both 
     public and private) for the provision of in-kind services to 
     Head Start agencies in the State; and
       ``(viii) work with the State Early Learning Council in 
     order to assist the efforts of Head Start agencies to engage 
     in effective coordination and collaboration.
       ``(6) Early head start.--
       ``(A) Amounts reserved.--From amounts reserved and allotted 
     pursuant to paragraphs (2) and (4), the Secretary shall use, 
     for grants for programs described in section 645A(a), a 
     portion of the combined total of such amounts that is not 
     less than 12 percent for fiscal year 2008, not less than 14 
     percent for fiscal year 2009, not less than 16 percent for 
     fiscal year 2010, not less than 18 percent for fiscal year 
     2011, and not less than 20 percent for fiscal year 2012 of 
     the amount appropriated pursuant to section 639(a).
       ``(B) Limitations.--

       ``(i) For any fiscal year for which the Secretary 
     determines that the amount appropriated under section 639(a) 
     is not sufficient to permit the Secretary to reserve the 
     portion described in subparagraph (A) without reducing the 
     number of children served by Head Start programs or adversely 
     affecting the quality of Head Start services, relative to the 
     number of children served and the quality of the services 
     during the preceding fiscal year, the Secretary may reduce 
     the percentage of funds required to be reserved for the 
     portion described in subparagraph (A) for the fiscal year for 
     which the determination is made, but not below the percentage 
     required to be so reserved for the preceding fiscal year.
       ``(ii) For any fiscal year for which the amount 
     appropriated under section 639(a) is reduced to a level that 
     requires a lower amount to be made available under this 
     subchapter to Head Start agencies and entities described in 
     section 645A, relative to the amount made available to such 
     agencies and entities for the preceding fiscal year, adjusted 
     as described in paragraph (3)(A)(ii), the Secretary shall 
     proportionately reduce--

       ``(I) the amounts made available to such entities for 
     programs carried out under section 645A; and
       ``(II) the amounts made available to such Head Start 
     agencies for Head Start programs.
       ``(7) For purposes of this subsection, the term `State' 
     does not include Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, 
     the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the 
     Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall 
     Islands, and the Republic of Palau.''.
       (b) Service Delivery Models.--Section 640(f) of the Head 
     Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(f)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(f) Service Delivery Models.--
       ``(1) Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
     of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, the Secretary shall 
     establish procedures to enable Head Start agencies to develop 
     locally designed or specialized service delivery models to 
     address local community needs, including models that leverage 
     the existing capacity and capabilities of the delivery system 
     of early childhood education and child care.
       ``(2) In establishing the procedures, the Secretary shall 
     establish procedures to provide for--
       ``(A) the conversion of part-day programs to full-day 
     programs or part-day slots to full-day slots; and
       ``(B) serving additional infants and toddlers pursuant to 
     section 645(a)(4).''.
       (c) Expansion of Head Start Programs.--Section 640(g) of 
     the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(g)) is amended in 
     paragraph (2)--
       (1) by striking ``For the purpose of expanding Head Start 
     programs, in'' and inserting ``In'', and
       (2) by amending subparagraphs (C) through (H) to read as 
     follows:
       ``(C) the extent to which the applicant has undertaken 
     community-wide strategic planning and needs assessments 
     involving other community organizations and local public 
     agencies serving children and families with Federal, State, 
     or local funds (including organizations and agencies 
     providing family support services, child abuse prevention 
     services, protective services, and foster care, and 
     organizations serving families in whose homes English is not 
     the language customarily spoken), and individuals, 
     organizations, and public entities serving children with 
     disabilities or homeless children, including the local 
     educational agency liaison designated under section 
     722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii));
       ``(D) the extent to which the family and community needs 
     assessment of the applicant reflects a need to provide full 
     working-day or full calendar year services and the extent to 
     which, and manner in which, the applicant demonstrates the 
     ability to collaborate and participate with the State and 
     local community providers of child care or preschool services 
     to provide full working-day full calendar year services;
       ``(E) the number of eligible children in each community who 
     are not participating in a Head Start program or any other 
     early childhood program;
       ``(F) the concentration of low-income families in each 
     community;
       ``(G) the extent to which the applicant proposes to foster 
     partnerships with other service providers in a manner that 
     will leverage the existing delivery systems of such services 
     and enhance the resource capacity of the applicant;
       ``(H) the extent to which the applicant, in providing 
     services, successfully coordinated its activities with the 
     local educational agency serving the community involved, 
     (including the local educational agency liaison designated 
     under section 722(g)(1)(J)(ii) of the McKinney-Vento Homeless 
     Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)) and with 
     schools in which children participating in a Head Start 
     program operated by such agency will enroll following such 
     program, regarding such services and the education services 
     provided by such local educational agency; and
       ``(I) the amount of funds used by such agency to pay 
     administrative expenses and the amount of available funds 
     received by such agency under this section to service each 
     enrolled child.''.
       (d) Transportation Safety.--
       (1) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue regulations 
     establishing requirements for the safety features, and the 
     safe operation, of vehicles used by Head Start agencies to 
     transport children participating in Head Start programs.
       (2) Good cause waiver authority.--The Secretary shall allow 
     Head Start agencies to annually request a good cause 
     exception to the requirements of regulations promulgated 
     under paragraph (1) for one or more vehicles used by the 
     agency or its designee in transporting children enrolled in a 
     Head Start program or an Early Head Start program if--
       (A) such requirements would create a safety hazard in the 
     circumstances faced by such agency; or
       (B) such requirements pertain to child restraint systems 
     (45 C.F.R. 1310.11, 1310.15(a)) or bus monitors (45 C.F.R. 
     1310.15(c));
       (C) the agency demonstrates that compliance with such 
     requirements will result in a significant disruption to the 
     Head Start program or the Early Head Start program; and
       (D) the waiver is in the best interest of the children 
     involved.
       (e) Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs.--Section 
     640(l) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9835(l)) is amended--
       (1) by amending paragraph (3) to read as follows:
       ``(3) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall 
     continue the administrative arrangement at the national level 
     for meeting the needs of Indian children and children of 
     migrant and seasonal farmworkers and shall ensure that 
     appropriate funding is provided to

[[Page H4340]]

     meet such needs, including training and technical assistance 
     and the appointment of a national migrant and seasonal Head 
     Start collaboration director and a national Indian Head Start 
     collaboration director.'', and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4)(A) For the purposes of paragraph (3), the Secretary 
     shall conduct an annual consultation in each affected Head 
     Start region, with tribal governments operating Head Start 
     programs and Early Head Start programs.
       ``(B) The consultations shall be for the purpose of better 
     meeting the needs of Indian children and children of Alaskan 
     Natives, and their families, in accordance with subsections 
     (a), (b), and (c) of section 641, taking into consideration 
     funding allocations, distribution formulas, and other issues 
     affecting the delivery of Head Start services in their 
     geographic locations.
       ``(C) The Secretary shall publish a notification of the 
     consultations in the Federal Register before conducting the 
     consultations.
       ``(D) A detailed report of each consultation shall be 
     prepared and made available within 90 days of the annual 
     consultation to all Indian tribes that receive assistance 
     under this subchapter.''.
       (f) Enrollment of Homeless Children; Rule of Construction; 
     Materials.--Section 640 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
     9835) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(m) Enrollment of Homeless Children.--The Secretary shall 
     issue rules to establish policies and procedures to remove 
     barriers to the enrollment and participation of homeless 
     children in Head Start programs. Such rules shall require 
     Head Start agencies--
       ``(1) to implement policies and procedures to ensure that 
     homeless children are identified and prioritized for 
     enrollment;
       ``(2) to allow homeless families to apply to, enroll in and 
     attend Head Start programs while required documents, such as 
     proof of residency, immunization and other medical records, 
     birth certificates and other documents, are obtained within a 
     reasonable time frame; and
       ``(3) coordinate individual Head Start programs with 
     efforts to implement subtitle B of title VII of the McKinney-
     Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431-11435).
       ``(n) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this subchapter 
     shall be construed to require a State to establish a program 
     of early education for children in the State, to require any 
     child to participate in a program of early education, to 
     attend school, or to participate in any initial screening 
     before participating in such program, except as provided 
     under sections 612(a)(3) and 635(a)(5) of the Individuals 
     with Disabilities Education Act.
       ``(o) Materials.--All curricula and instructional materials 
     funded under this subchapter shall be based on scientifically 
     based research, age and developmentally appropriate, and 
     focused on all areas of development (cognitive, social, 
     emotional, and physical), learning (language and literacy, 
     mathematics, science, and creative arts) and approaches to 
     learning. Parents shall be permitted to inspect, upon 
     request, any curricula or instructional materials used to 
     carry out this subchapter.''.

     SEC. 6. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

       Section 641 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 641. DESIGNATION OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

       ``(a) Authority To Designate.--The Secretary is authorized 
     to designate as a Head Start agency any local public or 
     private nonprofit agency, including community-based and 
     faith-based organizations, or for-profit agency, within a 
     community, pursuant to the requirements of this section, 
     except that until such time that the Secretary develops and 
     implements the system of application review under this 
     section, the Secretary is authorized to designate as a Head 
     Start agency, any local public or private nonprofit agency, 
     including community-based and faith-based organizations, or 
     for-profit agency, within a community, in the manner and 
     process utilized by the Secretary prior to the enactment of 
     the Improving Head Start Act of 2007.
       ``(b) Application for Grants.--Each entity shall submit a 
     plan to the Secretary, at such time and in such manner as the 
     Secretary may require.
       ``(c) Development of Application Review System.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop a system 
     that integrates the recommendations of the expert panel 
     convened under paragraph (3) to determine if a Head Start 
     agency is providing a quality comprehensive early learning 
     program that meets the educational, health, and nutritional 
     needs of the children and families it serves, and meets 
     program and financial management requirements and performance 
     standards described in section 641A(a)(1), based on--
       ``(A) annual budget data;
       ``(B) program reviews conducted under section 641A(c);
       ``(C) annual audits required under section 647;
       ``(D) classroom quality as measured under section 
     641A(c)(2)(H); and
       ``(E) Program Information Report.
       ``(2) Expert panel.--No later than six months after the 
     enactment of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, the 
     Secretary shall convene an expert panel of 7 members to make 
     recommendations to the Secretary on the development of a 
     transparent, reliable, and valid system for evaluating grant 
     renewal applications.
       ``(3) Composition of expert panel.--The Secretary, in 
     convening such panel, shall appoint the following:
       ``(A) 5 members, who are competent, by virtue of their 
     training, expertise, and experience, in each of at least one 
     of the following areas:
       ``(i) Early childhood program accreditation or quality 
     assessment.
       ``(ii) Research on early childhood development.
       ``(iii) Governance and finance of non-profit organizations.
       ``(iv) Delivery of services to children and families with 
     limited English proficiency.
       ``(v) Delivery of services to children with disabilities.
       ``(B) An employee from the Office of Head Start.
       ``(C) An executive director of a Head Start agency.
       ``(4) Expert panel report.--Within 12 months of being 
     convened by the Secretary, the expert panel shall issue a 
     report to the Secretary that provides recommendations on a 
     proposed system of application review that takes into account 
     the criteria in paragraph (1) to evaluate whether a Head 
     Start grantee is meeting mission to provide a high quality 
     comprehensive early education program, including adequately 
     meeting its governance and financial management requirements.
       ``(5) Public comment; report to congress.--No later than 6 
     months after receiving the report described in paragraph (4), 
     the Secretary shall publish a proposed system of application 
     review in the Federal Register, providing at least 90 days 
     for public comment and shall provide a report to the 
     Education and Labor Committee of the U.S. House of 
     Representatives and the Health, Education, Labor, and 
     Pensions Committee of the U.S. Senate that provides a 
     detailed description of such proposed system, including clear 
     rationale for any differences between the proposed system and 
     the recommendations of the expert panel, if any such 
     differences exist.
       ``(6) Implementation of application review system.--After 
     the Secretary has reviewed all public comments and finalized 
     the system of application review, the Secretary will use this 
     system to determine which grantees are successfully 
     delivering a high quality comprehensive early education 
     program. Grantees who are determined under such system to 
     be--
       ``(A) successfully delivering a high quality comprehensive 
     early education program shall be designated a Head Start 
     agency for a period of 5 years;
       ``(B) under-performing and may enter into an open 
     competition as described in subsection (e); and
       ``(C) notwithstanding paragraph (B), if an Indian Head 
     Start agency is determined to be underperforming, the 
     Secretary shall engage in government-to-government 
     consultation with the appropriate tribal government or 
     governments for the purpose of establishing a performance 
     enhancement plan for that agency. Such plan is to be 
     developed and implemented within 6 months of the Secretary's 
     determination. Not more than 6 months after implementation of 
     that plan, the Secretary shall re-evaluate the performance of 
     the Indian Head Start agency. If the Indian Head Start agency 
     remains underperforming, the Secretary shall conduct an open 
     competition as described in subsection (e), subject to the 
     following limitations:
       ``(i) Except as provided in paragraph (ii), a non-Indian 
     Head Start agency may not receive a grant to carry out an 
     Indian Head Start program.
       ``(ii) In a community in which there is no Indian Head 
     Start agency available for designation to carry out an Indian 
     Head Start program, a non-Indian Head Start agency, on an 
     interim basis, may receive a grant to carry out an Indian 
     Head Start program, but only until such time as an Indian 
     Head Start agency in such community becomes available.
       ``(d) Transparency, Reliability, and Validity.--The 
     Secretary shall ensure the system of application evaluation 
     is fair, consistent, and transparent and applied in a manner 
     that designates, in a timely manner grantees as Head Start 
     agencies for a period of 5 years if such grantees are 
     providing a high quality comprehensive early education 
     program. The Secretary shall periodically evaluate whether 
     the criteria are being applied in a manner that is 
     transparent, reliable, and valid.
       ``(e) Designation When No Entity Has Priority.--
       ``(1) In general.--If no entity in a community is 
     determined to be successfully delivering a high quality 
     comprehensive early education program, as specified in 
     subsection (c), the Secretary shall, after conducting an open 
     competition, designate for a 5-year period a Head Start 
     agency from among qualified applicants in such community.
       ``(2) Considerations in designation.--In selecting from 
     among qualified applicants for designation as a Head Start 
     agency, the Secretary shall consider the effectiveness of 
     each such applicant to provide Head Start services, based 
     on--
       ``(A) any past performance of such applicant in providing 
     services comparable to Head Start services, including how 
     effectively such applicant provided such comparable services;
       ``(B) the plan of such applicant to provide comprehensive 
     health (including mental and behavioral health), educational, 
     nutritional, social, and other services needed to prepare 
     children to succeed in school and in life;
       ``(C) the plan of such applicant to attract and retain 
     qualified staff capable of delivering a high quality 
     comprehensive early education program, including 
     demonstrating the ability to provide adequate salary and 
     benefits to maintain a high quality staff;
       ``(D) the ability of such applicant to maintain child-
     teacher ratios and family service worker caseloads that 
     reflect best practices and are tied to high quality service 
     delivery;
       ``(E) the capacity of such applicant to serve eligible 
     children with curriculum and teaching practices that are 
     based on scientifically based research, are developmentally 
     appropriate, and that promote the school readiness of 
     children participating in the program;

[[Page H4341]]

       ``(F) the plan of such applicant to meet standards set 
     forth in section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the 
     standards set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such 
     section;
       ``(G) the proposed budget and plan of such applicant to 
     maintain strong fiscal controls and cost effective fiscal 
     management;
       ``(H) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head 
     Start program the applicant proposes to carry out, with other 
     local early learning programs for young children, including--
       ``(i) programs implementing grants under the Early Reading 
     First and Even Start programs under subparts 2 and 3 of part 
     B of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 
     1965 (20 U.S.C. 6371 et seq., 6381 et seq.);
       ``(ii) and programs under section 619 and part C of the 
     Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 
     1431 et seq.);
       ``(iii) State prekindergarten programs;
       ``(iv) child care programs; and
       ``(v) the educational programs that the children 
     participating in the Head Start program will enter at the age 
     of compulsory school attendance;
       ``(I) the plan of such applicant to coordinate the Head 
     Start program that the applicant proposes to carry out, with 
     public and private entities that are willing to commit 
     resources to assist the Head Start program in meeting its 
     program needs;
       ``(J) the plan of such applicant--
       ``(i) to seek the involvement of parents (including 
     grandparents and kinship caregivers, as appropriate) of 
     children participating in the proposed Head Start program, in 
     activities (at home and, if practicable, at the location of 
     the Head Start program) designed to help such parents become 
     full partners in the education of their children;
       ``(ii) to afford such parents the opportunity to 
     participate in the development and overall conduct of the 
     program at the local level;
       ``(iii) to offer (directly or through referral to local 
     entities, such as entities carrying out Even Start programs 
     under subchapter 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6381 et seq.), 
     public and school libraries, and entities carrying out family 
     support programs) to such parents--

       ``(I) family literacy services; and
       ``(II) parenting skills training;

       ``(iv) to offer to parents of participating children, 
     mental health services (either directly or through referral 
     to local entities), including substance abuse counseling and 
     information on maternal depression and on the effect of drug-
     exposure on infants and fetal alcohol syndrome;
       ``(v) at the option of such applicant, to offer (directly 
     or through referral to local entities) to such parents--

       ``(I) training in basic child development (including 
     cognitive, social, and emotional development);
       ``(II) assistance in developing literacy and communication 
     skills;
       ``(III) opportunities to share experiences with other 
     parents (including parent mentor relationships);
       ``(IV) regular in-home visitation;
       ``(V) mental and behavioral health services; or
       ``(VI) any other activity designed to help such parents 
     become full partners in the education of their children;

       ``(vi) to provide, with respect to each participating 
     family, a family needs assessment that includes consultation 
     with such parents, in a manner and language that such parents 
     can understand, about the benefits of parent involvement and 
     about the activities described in subparagraph (H) in which 
     such parents may choose to become involved (taking into 
     consideration their specific family needs, work schedules, 
     and other responsibilities); and
       ``(vii) to extend outreach to fathers, in appropriate 
     cases, in order to strengthen the role of fathers in 
     families, in the education of their young children, and in 
     the Head Start program, by working directly with fathers and 
     father figures through activities such as--

       ``(I) in appropriate cases, including fathers in home 
     visits and providing culturally appropriate opportunities for 
     direct father-child interactions; and

       ``(II) targeting increased male participation in the 
     conduct of the program;

       ``(K) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of 
     limited English proficient children and their families, 
     including procedures to identify such children, plans to 
     provide trained personnel, and plans to provide services to 
     assist the children in making progress toward the acquisition 
     of the English language, while making meaningful progress in 
     attaining the knowledge, skills, abilities, and development 
     described in section 641A(a)(1)(B);
       ``(L) the plan of such applicant to meet the diverse 
     cultural needs of the population served;
       ``(M) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of 
     children with disabilities;
       ``(N) the plan of such applicant who chooses to assist 
     younger siblings of children who will participate in the Head 
     Start program to obtain health, including mental health, 
     services from other sources;
       ``(O) the plan of such applicant to collaborate with other 
     entities carrying out public or private early childhood 
     education and child care programs in the community;
       ``(P) the plan of such applicant to meet the needs of 
     homeless children, including transportation needs, and 
     children in foster care and children and families 
     experiencing toxic stress;
       ``(Q) the plan of such applicant to maintain a qualified 
     staff, including a teaching staff qualified to implement 
     research-based curricula aligned with the Head Start Child 
     Outcomes Framework developed by the Secretary and to the 
     early learning standards in State in which such program would 
     operate;
       ``(R) the plan of such applicant to enter into memoranda of 
     understanding with local educational agencies within the 
     service area, as described in section 642B(a); and
       ``(S) other factors related to the requirements of this 
     subchapter.
       ``(f) Interim Provider.--If no agency in the community 
     receives priority designation under subsection (c), and there 
     is no qualified applicant in the community, the Secretary 
     shall designate a qualified agency to carry out the Head 
     Start program in the community on an interim basis until a 
     qualified applicant from the community is so designated.
       ``(g) Parent and Community Participation.--The Secretary 
     shall require that the practice of significantly involving 
     parents and area residents affected by the program in the 
     selection of Head Start agencies be continued.
       ``(h) Community.--For purposes of this subchapter, a 
     community may be a city, county, or multicity or multicounty 
     unit within a State, an Indian reservation (including Indians 
     in any off-reservation area designated by an appropriate 
     tribal government in consultation with the Secretary) or a 
     neighborhood or other area (irrespective of boundaries or 
     political subdivisions) which provides a suitable 
     organizational base and possesses the commonality of interest 
     needed to operate a Head Start program.''.

     SEC. 7. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START AGENCIES 
                   AND PROGRAMS.

       Section 641A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9836a) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 641A. QUALITY STANDARDS; MONITORING OF HEAD START 
                   AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS.

       ``(a) Quality Standards.--
       ``(1) Establishment of standards.--The Secretary shall 
     modify, as necessary, program performance standards by 
     regulation applicable to Head Start agencies, programs, and 
     projects under this subchapter, including--
       ``(A) performance standards with respect to services 
     required to be provided, including health, parental 
     involvement, nutritional, social, transition activities 
     described in section 642(d), and other services;
       ``(B) scientifically based and developmentally appropriate 
     early learning standards related to school readiness that are 
     based on the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework to ensure 
     that the children participating in the program, at a minimum 
     develop and demonstrate--
       ``(i) language knowledge and skills, including oral 
     language and listening comprehension;
       ``(ii) prereading knowledge and skills that prepare 
     children for early literacy in schools including phonological 
     awareness, print awareness and print skills, and alphabetic 
     knowledge;
       ``(iii) mathematics knowledge and skills, including aspects 
     of classification, seriation, number, spatial relations, and 
     time;
       ``(iv) science knowledge and skills, including measurement;
       ``(v) cognitive abilities related to academic achievement 
     and general knowledge;
       ``(vi) social and emotional development related to early 
     learning, school success, social problem-solving, and overall 
     well-being;
       ``(vii) approaches to learning related to child development 
     and early learning;
       ``(viii) creative arts; and
       ``(ix) in the case of limited-English proficient children, 
     progress toward acquisition of the English language while 
     making meaningful progress in attaining the knowledge, 
     skills, abilities, and development described in clauses (i) 
     through (viii), including progress made through the use of 
     culturally and linguistically appropriate instructional 
     services;
       ``(C) administrative and financial management standards;
       ``(D) standards relating to the condition and location of 
     facilities for such agencies, programs, and projects; and
       ``(E) such other standards as the Secretary finds to be 
     appropriate.
       ``(2) Considerations in developing standards.--In 
     developing the standards required under paragraph (1), the 
     Secretary shall--
       ``(A) consult with experts in the fields of child 
     development, early childhood education, child health care, 
     family services (including linguistically and culturally 
     appropriate services to limited English proficient children 
     and their families), administration, and financial 
     management, and with persons with experience in the operation 
     of Head Start programs;
       ``(B) take into consideration--
       ``(i) past experience with use of the standards in effect 
     under this subchapter on October 27, 1998;
       ``(ii) changes over the period since October 27, 1998, in 
     the circumstances and problems typically facing children and 
     families served by Head Start agencies;
       ``(iii) recommendations from the report on Developmental 
     Outcomes and Assessments for Young Children by the National 
     Academy of Sciences, when it becomes available;
       ``(iv) developments concerning research-based practices 
     with respect to early childhood education and development, 
     children with disabilities, family services, program 
     administration, and financial management;
       ``(v) projected needs of an expanding Head Start program;
       ``(vi) guidelines and standards currently in effect or 
     under consideration that promote child health services and 
     physical development, including outdoor activity that 
     supports children's motor development and overall health and 
     nutrition;
       ``(vii) changes in the population of children who are 
     eligible to participate in Head Start programs, including the 
     language and cultural background and family structure of such 
     children;
       ``(viii) mechanisms to ensure that children participating 
     in Head Start programs make a successful transition to the 
     schools that the children will be attending; and

[[Page H4342]]

       ``(ix) the unique challenges faced by individual programs, 
     including those that are seasonal or short term, and those 
     that serve rural populations; and
       ``(C)(i) review and revise as necessary the performance 
     standards in effect under this subsection; and
       ``(ii) ensure that any such revisions in the performance 
     standards will not result in the elimination of or any 
     reduction in quality, scope or types of health, education, 
     parental involvement, nutritional, social, or other services 
     required to be provided under such standards as in effect on 
     October 27, 1998.
       ``(3) Standards relating to obligations to delegate 
     agencies.--In developing standards under this subsection, the 
     Secretary shall describe the obligations of a Head Start 
     agency to a delegate agency to which the Head Start agency 
     has delegated responsibility for providing services under 
     this subchapter and determine whether the Head Start agency 
     complies with the standards. The Secretary shall consider 
     such compliance during the review described in subsection 
     (c)(1)(A) and in determining whether to renew financial 
     assistance to the Head Start agency under this subchapter.
       ``(b) Measures.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in consultation with 
     representatives of Head Start agencies and with experts in 
     the fields of early childhood education and development, 
     shall use the study on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments 
     for Young Children by the National Academy of Sciences to 
     provide guidance to Head Start agencies for utilizing 
     scientifically-based measures that support, as appropriate--
       ``(A) classroom instructional practices;
       ``(B) identification of special needs; and
       ``(C) program evaluation.
       ``(2) Characteristics of measures.--The measures under this 
     subsection shall
       ``(A) be developmentally, linguistically, and culturally 
     appropriate for the population served;
       ``(B) be reviewed not less than every 4 years, based on 
     advances in the science of early childhood development;
       ``(C) be consistent with relevant, nationally recognized 
     professional and technical standards related to the 
     assessment of young children;
       ``(D) be valid and reliable (in English, Spanish, and any 
     other language, as appropriate);
       ``(E) be administered by staff with appropriate training 
     for such administration;
       ``(F) provide appropriate accommodations for children with 
     disabilities and children who are limited English proficient; 
     and
       ``(G) be high-quality research-based measures that have 
     been demonstrated to assist with the purposes for which they 
     were devised.
       ``(3) Use of measures; limitations on use.--
       ``(A) Measures shall be designed for the purpose of--
       ``(i) promoting the skills, knowledge, and competencies of 
     children participating in Head Start programs specified in 
     subsection (a)(1)(B)(ii), with an emphasis on measuring 
     skills that scientifically-based research has demonstrated 
     are related to children's school readiness and later success 
     in school;
       ``(ii) improving classroom practices, including reviewing 
     children's strengths and weaknesses;
       ``(iii) identifying special needs; and
       ``(iv) improving overall program performance in order to 
     help programs identify problem areas that may require 
     additional training and technical assistance resources.
       ``(B) Such measures shall not be used to exclude children 
     from Head Start programs.
       ``(4) Suspended implementation of national reporting 
     system.--The Secretary shall--
       ``(A) suspend implementation and terminate further 
     development and use of the National Reporting System; and
       ``(B) incorporate, as appropriate, recommendations from the 
     study on Developmental Outcomes and Assessments for Young 
     Children by the National Academy of Sciences into any 
     assessment used in the Head Start programs, in accordance 
     with paragraphs (2) and (3).
       ``(5) Special rule.--The use of assessment items and data 
     on any assessment authorized under this subchapter by an 
     agent or agents of the Federal Government to provide rewards 
     or sanctions for individual children or teachers is 
     prohibited. The Secretary shall not use the results of a 
     single assessment as the sole or primary method for assessing 
     program effectiveness or making grantee funding 
     determinations at the national, regional, or local level.
       ``(6) Confidentiality.--
       ``(A) The Secretary, through regulation, shall ensure the 
     confidentiality of any personally identifiable data, 
     information and records collected or maintained by the 
     Secretary and any Head Start agency. Such regulations shall 
     provide the policies, protections, and rights equivalent to 
     those provided a parent, student, or educational agency or 
     institution under section 444 of the General Education 
     Provisions Act.
       ``(B) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
     authorize the development of a nationwide database of 
     personally identifiable information on children participating 
     in measures under this subsection.
       ``(c) Monitoring of Local Agencies and Programs.--
       ``(1) In general.--To determine whether Head Start agencies 
     meet standards established under this subchapter with respect 
     to program, administrative, financial management, and other 
     requirements and in order to help programs identify areas for 
     improvement and areas of strengths as part of an on-going 
     self-assessment process, the Secretary shall develop and use 
     a risk-based assessment system to conduct the following 
     reviews of Head Start agencies, and of the Head Start 
     programs operated by such agencies:
       ``(A) A full review of each such agency at least once 
     during each 3-year period.
       ``(B) A review of each newly designated Head Start agency 
     immediately after the completion of the first year such 
     agency carries out a Head Start program.
       ``(C) Followup reviews, including unannounced reviews as 
     appropriate, of programs with 1 or more findings of 
     deficiencies not later than 12 months after the date of such 
     finding.
       ``(D) other reviews, including unannounced site inspections 
     of Head Start centers, as appropriate.
       ``(2) Conduct of reviews.--The Secretary shall ensure that 
     reviews described in subparagraphs (A) through (C) of 
     paragraph (1)--
       ``(A) are conducted by review teams that--
       ``(i) include individuals who are knowledgeable about Head 
     Start programs and, to the maximum extent practicable, the 
     diverse (including linguistic and cultural) needs of eligible 
     children (including children with disabilities) and limited-
     English proficient children and their families; and
       ``(ii) include, to the maximum extent practicable, current 
     or former employees of the Department of Health and Human 
     Services who are knowledgeable about Head Start programs;
       ``(B) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a 
     review and assessment of program strengths and areas in need 
     of improvement;
       ``(C) include as part of the reviews of the programs, a 
     review and assessment of whether programs have adequately 
     addressed the population and community needs (including 
     populations of children with limited English proficiency and 
     children of migrant and seasonal farm-working families);
       ``(D) include as part of the review the extent to which the 
     program addresses the community needs and strategic plan 
     identified in section 640(g)(2)(C);
       ``(E) include as part of the review the implementation by 
     qualified individuals with demonstrated reliability, of a 
     valid and reliable research-based observational instrument 
     that assesses classroom quality, including multiple 
     dimensions of teacher-child interactions that are linked to 
     positive child development and later achievement;
       ``(F) are conducted in a manner that evaluates program 
     performance, quality, and overall operations with consistency 
     and objectivity, and based on a transparent and reliable 
     system of review;
       ``(G) in the case of Early Head Start programs, are 
     conducted by a review team that includes individuals who are 
     knowledgeable about the development of infants and toddlers; 
     and
       ``(H) include as part of the review a protocol for fiscal 
     management that shall be used to assess the compliance with 
     program requirements for--
       ``(i) using federal funds appropriately;
       ``(ii) using federal funds specifically to purchase 
     property and to compensate personnel;
       ``(iii) securing and using qualified fiscal officer 
     support; and
       ``(iv) reporting financial information and implementing 
     appropriate internal controls to safeguard federal funds.
       ``(3) Use of review findings.--The findings of the review 
     shall, at a minimum--
       ``(A) be presented to an agency in a timely, transparent, 
     and uniform manner that conveys information of program 
     strengths and weaknesses and assists with program 
     improvement; and
       ``(B) be used by the Head Start agencies to inform the 
     development and implementation of their plan for training and 
     technical assistance.
       ``(d) Evaluations and Corrective Actions for Delegate 
     Agencies.--
       ``(1) Procedures.--The Head Start agency shall establish 
     procedures relating to its delegate agencies, including--
       ``(A) procedures for evaluating delegate agencies;
       ``(B) procedures for defunding delegate agencies; and
       ``(C) procedures for appealing a defunding decision 
     relating to a delegate agency.
       ``(2) Evaluations.--Each Head Start agency--
       ``(A) shall evaluate its delegate agencies using the 
     procedures established under this section; and
       ``(B) shall inform the delegate agencies of the 
     deficiencies identified through the evaluation that are 
     required to be corrected.
       ``(3) Remedies to ensure corrective actions.--If the Head 
     Start agency identifies a deficiency of a delegate agency 
     through the evaluation, the Head Start agency may--
       ``(A) initiate procedures to terminate the designation of 
     the delegate agency unless such agency corrects the 
     deficiency; and
       ``(B) conduct monthly monitoring visits to such delegate 
     agency until all deficiencies are corrected or the Head Start 
     agency decides to defund such delegate agency.
       ``(4) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection 
     shall be construed to modify, supersede, or affect the 
     powers, duties, or functions of the Secretary with respect to 
     Head Start agencies or delegate agencies that receive 
     financial assistance under this subchapter.
       ``(e) Corrective Action; Termination.--
       ``(1) Determination.--If the Secretary determines, on the 
     basis of a review pursuant to subsection (c), that a Head 
     Start agency designated pursuant to section 641 fails to meet 
     the standards described in subsection (a) or fails to 
     adequately address the community needs and strategic plan 
     identified in section 640(g)(2)(C), the Secretary shall--
       ``(A) inform the agency of the deficiencies that shall be 
     corrected;
       ``(B) with respect to each identified deficiency, require 
     the agency--
       ``(i) to correct the deficiency immediately, if the 
     Secretary finds that the deficiency threatens the health or 
     safety of staff or program participants or poses a threat to 
     the integrity of Federal funds;

[[Page H4343]]

       ``(ii) to correct the deficiency not later than 90 days 
     after the identification of the deficiency if the Secretary 
     finds, in the discretion of the Secretary, that such a 90-day 
     period is reasonable, in light of the nature and magnitude of 
     the deficiency; or
       ``(iii) in the discretion of the Secretary (taking into 
     consideration the seriousness of the deficiency and the time 
     reasonably required to correct the deficiency), to comply 
     with the requirements of paragraph (2) concerning a quality 
     improvement plan; and
       ``(C) initiate proceedings to terminate the designation of 
     the agency unless the agency corrects the deficiency.
       ``(2) Quality improvement plan.--
       ``(A) Agency and program responsibilities.--To retain a 
     designation as a Head Start agency under this subchapter, or 
     in the case of a Head Start program to continue to receive 
     funds from such agency, a Head Start agency, or Head Start 
     program that is the subject of a determination described in 
     paragraph (1) (excluding an agency or program required to 
     correct a deficiency immediately or during a 90-day period 
     under clause (i) or (ii) of paragraph (1)(B)) shall--
       ``(i) develop in a timely manner, a quality improvement 
     plan that shall be subject to the approval of the secretary, 
     or in the case of a program, the sponsoring agency, and which 
     shall specify--

       ``(I) the deficiencies to be corrected;
       ``(II) the actions to be taken to correct such 
     deficiencies; and
       ``(III) the timetable for accomplishment of the corrective 
     actions specified; and

       ``(ii) eliminate each deficiency identified, not later than 
     the date for elimination of such deficiency specified in such 
     plan (which shall not be later than 10 months after the date 
     the agency or program obtains approval of its quality 
     improvement plan).
       ``(B) Secretarial responsibility.--Not later than 30 days 
     after receiving from a Head Start agency a proposed quality 
     improvement plan pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary 
     shall either approve such proposed plan or specify the 
     reasons why the proposed plan cannot be approved.
       ``(C) Agency responsibility for program improvement.--Not 
     later than 30 days after receiving from a Head Start program, 
     a proposed quality improvement plan pursuant to subparagraph 
     (A), the Head Start agency shall either approve such proposed 
     plan or specify the reasons why the proposed plan cannot be 
     approved.
       ``(3) Training and technical assistance.--The Secretary 
     shall provide training and technical assistance to Head Start 
     agencies and programs with respect to the development or 
     implementation of such quality improvement plans to the 
     extent the Secretary finds such provision to be feasible and 
     appropriate given available funding and other statutory 
     responsibilities.
       ``(f) Summaries of Monitoring Outcomes.--Not later than 120 
     days after the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall 
     publish a summary report on the findings of reviews conducted 
     under subsection (c) and on the outcomes of quality 
     improvement plans implemented under subsection (e), during 
     such fiscal year. Such report shall be made available to all 
     parents with children receiving assistance under this 
     subchapter in an understandable and uniform format, and to 
     the extent practicable, provided in a language that the 
     parents can understand, and in addition, make the information 
     widely available through public means such as distribution 
     through public agencies, and at a minimum posting such 
     information on the Internet immediately upon publication. 
     Such reports shall contain detailed data on compliance with 
     specific performance standards and measures sufficient to 
     allow individual Head Start agencies to use such data to 
     improve the quality of their program.
       ``(g) Self-Assessments.--
       ``(1) In general.--Not less frequently than once each 
     program year, with the consultation and participation of 
     policy councils, and as applicable, policy committees, and as 
     appropriate, other community members, each Head Start agency 
     and each delegate agency that receives financial assistance 
     under this subchapter shall conduct a comprehensive self-
     assessment of its effectiveness and progress in meeting 
     program goals and objectives (including professional 
     development plans) and in implementing and complying with 
     Head Start program performance standards.
       ``(2) Report and improvement plans.--
       ``(A) Report.--An agency conducting a self-assessment shall 
     report the findings of the self-assessment to the relevant 
     policy council, policy committee, governing body, and 
     Secretary. Each self-assessment shall identify areas of 
     strength and weakness.
       ``(B) Improvement plan.--The agency shall develop and 
     report to the Secretary an improvement plan approved by the 
     governing body of the agency to strengthen any areas 
     identified in the self-assessment as weaknesses or in need of 
     improvement.
       ``(3) Ongoing monitoring.--Each Head Start agency, delegate 
     Head Start agency, and entity that carries out an Early Head 
     Start program a shall establish and implement procedures for 
     the ongoing monitoring of their respective programs, to 
     ensure that the operations of the programs work toward 
     meeting program goals and objectives and Head Start 
     performance standards.
       ``(h) Enrollment Reporting Requirement.--
       ``(1) Head Start agencies shall report on a regular basis 
     to the Secretary--
       ``(A) the actual enrollment in such program; and
       ``(B) if such actual enrollment is less than the funded 
     enrollment, any apparent reason for such enrollment 
     shortfall.
       ``(2) The Secretary shall determine on a regular basis 
     which Head Start agencies are operating with an actual 
     enrollment that is less than the funded enrollment and shall 
     provide appropriate and timely training and technical 
     assistance to increase actual enrollment, as appropriate.
       ``(3) In this subsection:
       ``(A) The term `actual enrollment' means, with respect to a 
     Head Start program, the actual number of children enrolled in 
     such program in a given month.
       ``(B) The term `base grant' means, with respect to Head 
     Start agency for a fiscal year, that portion of the grant 
     derived from--
       ``(i) amounts reserved for use in accordance with section 
     640(a)(2)(A), for a Head Start agency administering an Indian 
     Head Start program or migrant and seasonal Head Start 
     program;
       ``(ii) amounts reserved for payments under section 
     640(a)(2)(B); or
       ``(iii) amounts available under section 640(a)(2)(D) or 
     allotted among States under section 640(a)(4).
       ``(C) The term `funded enrollment' means, with respect to 
     the program of a Head Start agency in a fiscal year, the 
     number of children that the agency is funded to serve through 
     a grant for the program during such fiscal year, as indicated 
     in the grant award.
       ``(i) Redistribution of Funds.--Funds held by the Secretary 
     as a result of recapturing, withholding, or reducing a base 
     grant, except when such action is the result of an open 
     competition 641(d)) or termination 646(d) shall be 
     redistributed in such fiscal year as follows:
       ``(1) If such funds are derived from an Indian Head Start 
     program, then such funds shall be redistributed to increase 
     enrollment in such fiscal year in 1 or more Indian Head Start 
     programs.
       ``(2) If such funds are derived from the operation of a 
     migrant and seasonal Head Start program, then such funds 
     shall be redistributed to increase enrollment in such fiscal 
     year in 1 or more migrant and seasonal Head Start programs.
       ``(3) If such funds are derived from the operation of a 
     Head Start program in a State (excluding Indian Head Start 
     program and migrant and seasonal Head Start programs), then 
     such funds shall be redistributed to increase enrollment in 
     such fiscal year in 1 or more Head Start programs (excluding 
     Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal Head 
     Start programs) that are carried out in such State, except 
     that--
       ``(A) not less than 50 percent of the funds shall be 
     prioritized to increase the program participation of children 
     and families served under Early Head Start; and
       ``(B) not less than 25 percent of the funds shall be 
     prioritized to increase program participation of underserved 
     populations of eligible children.''.

     SEC. 8. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

       Section 642 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 642. POWERS AND FUNCTIONS OF HEAD START AGENCIES.

       ``(a) Legal Authority.--To be designated as a Head Start 
     agency under this subchapter, an agency must have authority 
     under its charter or applicable law to receive and administer 
     funds under this subchapter, funds and contributions from 
     private or local public sources which may be used in support 
     of a Head Start program, and funds under any Federal or State 
     assistance program pursuant to which a public or private 
     nonprofit or for-profit agency (as the case may be) organized 
     in accordance with this subchapter, could act as grantee, 
     contractor, or sponsor of projects appropriate for inclusion 
     in a Head Start program. Such an agency must also be 
     empowered to transfer funds so received, and to delegate 
     powers to other agencies, subject to the powers of its 
     governing board and its overall program responsibilities. The 
     power to transfer funds and delegate powers must include the 
     power to make transfers and delegations covering component 
     projects in all cases where this will contribute to 
     efficiency and effectiveness or otherwise further program 
     objectives.
       ``(b) Family and Community Involvement; Family Services.--
     To be so designated, a Head Start agency shall, at a minimum, 
     do all the following to involve and serve families and 
     communities:
       ``(1) Establish effective procedures by which parents and 
     area residents concerned will be enabled to directly 
     participate in decisions that influence the character of 
     programs affecting their interests.
       ``(2) Seek the involvement of parents, area residents, and 
     local business in the design and implementation of the 
     program.
       ``(3) Establish effective procedures to facilitate and seek 
     the involvement of parents of participating children in 
     activities designed to help such parents become full partners 
     in the education of their children, and to afford such 
     parents the opportunity to participate in the development and 
     overall conduct of the program at the local level, including 
     a process through which parents of children currently 
     participating in a Head Start program or an Early Head Start 
     program select the parent representatives to serve on the 
     council under section 642(b)(4)(B)(ii).
       ``(4) Offer (directly or through referral to local 
     entities, such as entities carrying out Even Start programs 
     under subpart 3 of part B of title I of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 2741 et seq.)), to 
     parents of participating children, family literacy services 
     and parenting skills training.
       ``(5) Offer to parents of participating children mental 
     health services (either directly or through referral to local 
     entities), including substance abuse counseling, and 
     including information on maternal depression and on drug-
     exposed infants and fetal alcohol syndrome.

[[Page H4344]]

       ``(6) At the option of such agency, offer (directly or 
     through referral to local entities) to such parents--
       ``(A) training in basic child development (including 
     cognitive, social, and emotional development);
       ``(B) assistance in developing literacy and communication 
     skills;
       ``(C) opportunities to share experiences with other parents 
     (including parent-mentor relationships);
       ``(D) mental and behavioral health services;
       ``(E) regular in-home visitation; or
       ``(F) any other activity designed to help such parents 
     become full partners in the education of their children.
       ``(7) Provide, with respect to each participating family, a 
     family needs assessment that includes consultation with such 
     parents, in a manner and language that such parents can 
     understand, about the benefits of parent involvement and 
     about the activities described in paragraphs (5) through (8) 
     in which such parents may choose to be involved (taking into 
     consideration their specific family needs, work schedules, 
     and other responsibilities).
       ``(8) Consider providing services to assist younger 
     siblings of children participating in its Head Start program 
     to obtain health, including mental health, services from 
     other sources.
       ``(9) Perform community outreach to encourage individuals 
     previously unaffiliated with Head Start programs to 
     participate in its Head Start program as volunteers.
       ``(10)(A) Inform custodial parents in single-parent 
     families that participate in programs, activities, or 
     services carried out or provided under this subchapter about 
     the availability of child support services for purposes of 
     establishing paternity and acquiring child support; and
       ``(B) Refer eligible parents to the child support offices 
     of State and local governments.
       ``(11) Provide parents of limited English proficient 
     children outreach and services under this subchapter, in an 
     understandable and uniform format and, to the extent 
     practicable, in a language that such parents can understand.
       ``(12) Provide technical and other support needed to enable 
     parents and area residents to secure on their own behalf 
     available assistance from public and private sources.
       ``(13) Promote the continued involvement of the parents 
     (including grandparents and kinship caregivers, as 
     appropriate) of children that participate in Head Start 
     programs in the education of their children upon transition 
     to school, the Head Start agency shall work with the local 
     educational agency--
       ``(A) to provide training to the parents;
       ``(i) to inform the parents about their rights and 
     responsibilities concerning the education of their children; 
     and
       ``(ii) to enable the parents--

       ``(I) to understand and work with schools in order to 
     communicate with teachers and other school personnel;
       ``(II) to support the schoolwork of their children; and
       ``(III) to participate as appropriate in decisions relating 
     to the education of their children; and

       ``(B) to take other actions, as appropriate and feasible, 
     to support the active involvement of the parents with 
     schools, school personnel, and school-related organizations.
       ``(14) Provide parents of a child suspected of having a 
     disability information about services available under section 
     619 or part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education 
     Act (20 U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.) and refer such child to 
     the appropriate agency for an evaluation of eligibility under 
     such Act.
       ``(c) Program Governance.--Head Start agencies must 
     establish and maintain a formal structure of shared 
     governance through which an independent governing body with 
     legal and fiscal responsibility for administering and 
     overseeing programs under this subchapter and a parent policy 
     council and parent policy committee, as appropriate, shall 
     ensure that such agency operates a high quality Head Start 
     program in compliance with all applicable Federal, State, and 
     local laws.
       ``(1) Governing body.--
       ``(A) Composition.--The governing body shall be composed as 
     follows:
       ``(i) Not less than 1 member with significant financial 
     management or accounting experience.
       ``(ii) Not less than 1 member shall have a background and 
     expertise in early childhood development.
       ``(iii) Not less than 1 member shall be a licensed attorney 
     familiar with issues that come before the governing body.
       ``(iv) Additional members shall be selected for their 
     expertise in education, business administration, and 
     community affairs and shall reflect the community served.
       ``(v) Exceptions shall be made when members of the 
     governing body oversee a public entity and are selected by 
     public election or are political appointments.
       ``(B) Conflict of interest.--Members of the governing body 
     shall--
       ``(i) not have a conflict of interest with the Head Start 
     agency or delegate agencies, exceptions shall be made when a 
     board member of a public entity is selected by election or 
     politically appointed;
       ``(ii) not receive compensation for the purposes of serving 
     on the governing body or for providing services to the Head 
     Start agency, exceptions shall be made when a board member of 
     a public entity is selected by election or politically 
     appointed;
       ``(iii) not be employed nor shall members of their 
     immediate family be employed by the Head Start agency or one 
     of its delegate agencies, exceptions shall be made when a 
     board member of a public entity is selected by election or 
     politically appointed; and
       ``(iv) operate as an entity independent of staff employed 
     by the Head Start agency entity or applicant, exceptions 
     shall be made when a board member of a public entity is 
     selected by election or politically appointed.
       ``(C) Consultants.--In the case that persons described in 
     subparagraph (A) are not available to serve as members, the 
     governing body shall make use of consultants in the areas 
     described in subparagraph (A) to work directly with the 
     governing body.
       ``(D) Training.--All members of the governing body shall 
     receive training in management responsibilities and 
     obligations, ethics, and financial literacy management.
       ``(E) Responsibilities of governing body.--The governing 
     body shall be responsible for--
       ``(i) adoption of practices that assure active, independent 
     and informed governance of the Head Start agency;
       ``(ii) oversight to ensure that the Head Start agency under 
     the direction of the executive director is delivering high 
     quality services to children and families in compliance with 
     all applicable standards in effect under this subchapter and 
     with the applicable performance measures established by the 
     Secretary under section 644;
       ``(iii) establish an audit and finance committee whose 
     primary responsibility shall be--

       ``(I) to approve annually the operating budget of the Head 
     Start agency;
       ``(II) to review and recommend to the governing body the 
     selection of independent auditors who shall report all 
     critical accounting policies and practices to the finance and 
     audit committee, except when the auditor is assigned by the 
     State under State law;
       ``(III) to review and recommend to the governing body the 
     termination or extension of the existing audit firm at least 
     once every 5 years;
       ``(IV) to review and advise the governing body of the audit 
     management letter provided pursuant to the chapter 75 of 
     title 31, United States Code, and of any audit findings; and
       ``(V) to monitor agency actions to correct any such audit 
     findings or other actions necessary to comply with applicable 
     laws (including regulations) governing financial statements 
     and accounting practices;

       ``(iv) approve all major policies of the agency, including 
     the mission of the agency and policies addressing accounting, 
     financial management, procurement, record confidentiality, 
     and personnel (including specific standards governing 
     salaries, salary adjustments, travel and per diem allowances, 
     and other employee benefits);
       ``(v) approve all major financial expenditures of the 
     agency;
       ``(vi) approve the selection or dismissal of the Head Start 
     Director or the equivalent position within the Head Start 
     agency;
       ``(vii) approve or disapprove all policies, applications, 
     and decisions of the Policy Council made under the authority 
     of paragraph (2);
       ``(viii) to oversee the program planning of the Head Start 
     agency, including adoption of policies for setting long- and 
     short-range goals and objectives;
       ``(ix) oversee and approve the agency's applications to 
     receive funds made available under this subchapter; and
       ``(x) to establish, adopt and periodically update written 
     standards of conduct that establish standards and formal 
     procedures for disclosing, addressing, and resolving--

       ``(I) any conflict of interest, and any appearance of a 
     conflict of interest, by members of the governing body, 
     officers, employees, consultants and agents who provide 
     services or furnish goods to the Head Start agency; and
       ``(II) complaints, including investigations, when 
     appropriate.

       ``(2) Policy council.--
       ``(A) Composition.--The Policy Council or Policy Committee, 
     as appropriate, shall be composed as follows:
       ``(i) Members of the Policy Council shall be either parents 
     of children currently enrolled in the Head Start agency's (or 
     delegate's) Head Start or Early Head Start program or that 
     are parents of children who were enrolled in the program in 
     the previous year (Parent Members) or shall be members of the 
     community served by the Head Start agency or delegate 
     (Community Members).
       ``(ii) Parent members of the Policy Council shall 
     constitute a majority of the members of the Policy Council 
     and shall be elected by parents of currently enrolled 
     children.
       ``(iii) Parent members shall represent, proportionately, 
     all program options and settings operated by the Head Start 
     agency or delegate.
       ``(iv) The term of a Policy Council member shall be no more 
     than 2 years and no Policy Council member shall serve longer 
     than 6 years.
       ``(B) Responsibilities of policy council.--In order to be 
     designated as a Head Start agency, an entity or delegate of 
     such an entity shall have a Policy Council which shall 
     approve and submit to the governing body decisions about the 
     following activities:
       ``(i) The strategic direction of the program, including 
     long and short-term planning goals and objectives (such 
     planning and goals shall take into account the annual 
     community assessment and self-assessment).
       ``(ii) Selection of delegate agencies and their service 
     areas.
       ``(iii) Recruitment, selection and enrollment priorities.
       ``(iv) Funding applications and amendments to funding 
     applications for Head Start or Early Head Start prior to 
     submission of such applications.
       ``(v) Budget planning for program expenditures.
       ``(vi) Bylaws for the operation of the Policy Council 
     including procedures by which Policy Council members are 
     chosen.
       ``(vii) Program personnel policies, including standards of 
     conduct for program staff, contractors and volunteers.
       ``(viii) Decisions regarding employment of Head Start staff 
     other than the director and executive director.

[[Page H4345]]

       ``(ix) Activities to support the active involvement of 
     parents in supporting program operations.
       ``(x) Program responsiveness to community and parent needs.
       ``(C) Training.--Appropriate training and technical 
     assistance shall be provided to the members of the Policy 
     Council to ensure that the members understand the information 
     the members receive and effectively oversee and participate 
     in the programs of the Head Start agency or delegate.
       ``(3) Impasse policy.--The Secretary shall develop policies 
     and procedures describing how Head Start agencies will 
     implement shared decision-making, including a process for 
     resolving any impasse between the Governing Body and the 
     Policy Council.
       ``(d) Collaboration and Coordination.--To be so designated, 
     a Head Start agency must collaborate and coordinate with 
     public and private entities to improve the available services 
     to Head Start children and families, including the following 
     activities:
       ``(1) Conduct outreach to schools in which children 
     participating in Head Start programs enroll, local 
     educational agencies, the local business community, 
     community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, 
     museums, and libraries to generate support and leverage the 
     resources of the entire local community in order to improve 
     school readiness.
       ``(2) In communities where both public prekindergarten 
     programs and Head Start programs operate, a Head Start agency 
     shall collaborate and coordinate activities with the local 
     educational agency or other public agency responsible for the 
     operation of the prekindergarten program and providers of 
     prekindergarten, including outreach activities to identify 
     eligible children, as possible.
       ``(3) Head Start agency staff shall, with the permission of 
     the parents of children enrolled in Head Start programs, 
     regularly communicate with the elementary schools such 
     children will be attending--
       ``(A) to share information about such children; and
       ``(B) to ensure a smooth transition to elementary school 
     for such children.
       ``(4) Each Head Start agency shall collaborate, as 
     appropriate, with providers of social and community services 
     available to children and families participating in Head 
     Start programs, and may support such partnerships with 
     financial agreements, when applicable, for the provision of 
     such services.
       ``(5) A Head Start agency shall take steps to coordinate 
     activities with the local educational agency serving the 
     community involved and with schools in which children 
     participating in a Head Start program operated by such agency 
     will enroll following such program, including--
       ``(A) collaborating on the shared use of transportation and 
     facilities;
       ``(B) collaborating to enhance the efficiency of services 
     while increasing the program participation of underserved 
     populations of eligible children; and
       ``(C) exchanging information on the provision of 
     noneducational services to such children.
       ``(6) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
     Education, shall--
       ``(A) evaluate the effectiveness of the projects and 
     activities funded under section 642A;
       ``(B) disseminate to Head Start agencies information 
     (including information from the evaluation required by 
     subparagraph (A)) on effective policies and activities 
     relating to the transition of children from Head Start 
     programs to public schools; and
       ``(C) provide technical assistance to such agencies to 
     promote and assist such agencies to adopt and implement such 
     effective policies and activities.
       ``(e) Quality Standards, Curricula and Assessment.--To be 
     so designated, each Head Start agency shall--
       ``(1) take steps to ensure, to the maximum extent possible, 
     that children maintain the developmental and educational 
     gains achieved in Head Start programs and build upon such 
     gains in further schooling;
       ``(2) establish a program with standards set forth in 
     section 641A(a)(1), with particular attention to the 
     standards set forth in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of such 
     section;
       ``(3) implement a research-based early childhood curriculum 
     that promotes young children's school readiness in the areas 
     of language and cognitive development, early reading and 
     premathematics skills, socio-emotional development, physical 
     development, and approaches to learning. Such curricula shall 
     be--
       ``(A) based on scientifically based research and have 
     standardized training procedures and curriculum materials to 
     support implementation;
       ``(B) comprehensive, linked to ongoing assessment, with 
     developmental and learning goals and measurable objectives; 
     and focused on improving the learning environment, teaching 
     practices, family involvement, and child outcomes across all 
     areas of development; and
       ``(C) aligned to the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework 
     developed by the Secretary and to State early learning 
     standards, as appropriate;
       ``(4) use ongoing, research-based assessment methods that 
     are developmentally appropriate, culturally and 
     linguistically responsive, and tied to children's daily 
     activities in order to support the educational instruction of 
     children in the program, including language skills, 
     prereading knowledge and premathematics knowledge. Assessment 
     instruments shall be those designed and validated for making 
     decisions about teaching and learning and aligned with the 
     programs curricula and section 641A(a)(1);
       ``(5) use high-quality research-based developmental 
     screening tools that have been demonstrated to be 
     standardized, reliable, valid, and accurate for children from 
     a range of racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural 
     backgrounds, for the purpose of meeting the relevant 
     performance standards;
       ``(6) adopt, in consultation with experts in child 
     development and with classroom teachers, an assessment to be 
     used when hiring or evaluating any classroom teacher in a 
     center-based Head Start program. Such assessment shall 
     measure whether such teacher has mastered the functions 
     described in section 648A(a)(1) and attained a level of 
     literacy appropriate to implement Head Start curricula;
       ``(7) use the information provided from the assessment 
     conducted under section 640A(C)(2)(H) to adopt a professional 
     development plan that leads to improved teacher 
     effectiveness;
       ``(8) establish measurable objectives for the provision of 
     health, educational, nutritional, and social services related 
     to the program mission and to school readiness and provided 
     under this subchapter; and
       ``(9) develop procedures for identifying children as 
     limited English proficient, and inform the parents of such 
     children as to the instructional services used to help 
     children make progress towards acquiring the knowledge and 
     skills described in section 641A(a)(1)(B) and acquisition of 
     the English language.
       ``(f) Funded Enrollment; Waiting List.--Each Head Start 
     agency shall enroll 100 percent of its funded enrollment and 
     maintain an active waiting list at all times with ongoing 
     outreach to the community and activities to identify 
     underserved populations.
       ``(g) Technical Assistance and Training Plan.--In order to 
     receive funds under this subchapter, a Head Start agency 
     shall develop an annual technical assistance and training 
     plan. Such plan shall be based on the agency's self-
     assessment, the community-wide needs assessment, the needs of 
     parents and children to be serviced by such agency, and the 
     results of the reviews conducted under section 641A(c).
       ``(h) Financial Management.--In order to receive funds 
     under this subchapter, a Head Start agency shall document 
     strong fiscal controls, including the employment of well-
     qualified fiscal staff with a history of successful 
     management of a public or private organization.''.

     SEC. 9. HEAD START TRANSITION AND ALIGNMENT WITH K-12 
                   EDUCATION.

       Section 642A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9837a) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 642A. HEAD START TRANSITION AND ALIGNMENT WITH K-12 
                   EDUCATION.

       ``Each Head Start agency shall take steps to coordinate 
     with the local educational agency serving the community 
     involved and with schools in which children participating in 
     a Head Start program operated by such agency will enroll 
     following such program to promote continuity of services and 
     effective transitions, including--
       ``(1) developing and implementing a systematic procedure 
     for transferring, with parental consent, Head Start program 
     records for each participating child to the school in which 
     such child will enroll;
       ``(2) establishing ongoing channels of communication 
     between Head Start staff and their counterparts in the 
     schools (including teachers, social workers, McKinney-Vento 
     liaisons as established under section 722 (g)(1)(J)(ii) of 
     the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
     11432(g)(1)(J)(ii)), and health staff) to facilitate 
     coordination of programs;
       ``(3) establish on-going communication for developing 
     continuity of developmentally appropriate curricula between 
     Head Start and local educational agencies to ensure an 
     effective transition and appropriate shared expectations for 
     children's learning and development as they make such 
     transition to school;
       ``(4) organizing and participating in joint training, 
     including transition-related training for school staff and 
     Head Start staff;
       ``(5) conducting meetings involving parents, kindergarten 
     or elementary school teachers, and Head Start program 
     teachers to discuss the educational, developmental, and other 
     needs of individual children;
       ``(6) helping parents of limited English Proficient 
     children understand the method of instruction and other 
     services provided by the school in which such child will 
     enroll after participation in Head Start and as appropriate, 
     information provided to parents of limited English proficient 
     children under section 3302 of title III of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20U.S.C. 7012);
       ``(7) developing and implementing a family outreach and 
     support program in cooperation with entities carrying out 
     parental involvement efforts under title I of the Elementary 
     and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.) 
     and family outreach and support efforts under subtitle B of 
     title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 
     U.S.C. 11431-11435);
       ``(8) assisting families, administrators, and teachers in 
     enhancing educational and developmental continuity and 
     continuity in parental involvement activities between Head 
     Start services and elementary school classes;
       ``(9) linking the services provided in such Head Start 
     program with the education services, including services 
     relating to language, literacy, and numeracy, provided by 
     such local educational agency;
       ``(10) helping parents (including grandparents and kinship 
     caregivers, as appropriate) to understand the importance of 
     parental involvement in a child's academic success while 
     teaching them strategies for maintaining parental involvement 
     as their child moves from Head Start to elementary school;
       ``(11) developing and implementing a system to increase 
     program participation of underserved populations of eligible 
     children; and
       ``(12) coordinating activities and collaborating to ensure 
     that curricula used in the Head Start program are aligned 
     with--

[[Page H4346]]

       ``(A) the Head Start Child Outcomes Framework as developed 
     by the Secretary; and
       ``(B) State early learning standards, as appropriate, with 
     regard to cognitive, social, emotional, and physical 
     competencies that children entering kindergarten are expected 
     to demonstrate.''.

     SEC. 10. LOCAL AND STATE INTEGRATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD 
                   EDUCATION.

       The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended by inserting 
     after section 642A the following:

     ``SEC. 642B. LOCAL AND STATE INTEGRATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD 
                   EDUCATION.

       ``(a) Local Integration.--In general, Head Start agencies 
     shall enter into ongoing partnerships with local educational 
     agencies and with State-funded preschool and other early 
     childhood programs.
       ``(1) Memoranda of understanding.--Each Head Start agency 
     shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with any local 
     educational agencies or local councils, responsible for 
     managing publicly funded prekindergarten programs in the 
     service area of the Head Start agency (or if such agencies 
     and such councils are not applicable in the service area, 
     with the largest provider of publicly funded prekindergarten 
     in the service area), that shall include plans to coordinate 
     the following activities:
       ``(A) Educational activities, curricula, and instruction.
       ``(B) Public information dissemination and access to 
     programs for families contacting any of the early childhood 
     programs.
       ``(C) Selection priorities for eligible children to be 
     served by programs.
       ``(D) Service delivery areas.
       ``(E) Staff training, including opportunities for joint 
     staff training on topics such as academic content standards, 
     instructional methods, and social and emotional development.
       ``(F) Program technical assistance.
       ``(G) Provision of additional services to meet the needs of 
     working parents.
       ``(H) Planning and parent education for smooth transitions 
     to kindergarten as required in section 642A(3) and 642A(6).
       ``(I) Provision and use of facilities, transportation, and 
     other program elements.
       ``(J) Other elements mutually agreed to by the parties to 
     such memorandum.
       ``(2) Timing of memoranda.--Each Head Start agency shall 
     enter into a memorandum of understanding under paragraph (1) 
     not later than 1 year after the effective date of this 
     section.
       ``(3) Secretarial review.--Each memorandum of understanding 
     entered into under paragraph (1) shall be submitted to the 
     Secretary not later than 30 days after entering into such 
     memorandum.
       ``(A) If a Head Start agency is unable to comply with the 
     requirement in paragraph (1) the Head Start agency shall 
     notify the Secretary and the chief executive officer of the 
     State not later than 30 days after determining that they are 
     unable to enter into such memorandum. The Secretary, in 
     cooperation with the State Early Learning Council and the 
     State Director of Head Start Collaboration, shall evaluate 
     the causes of failure to enter into a memorandum of 
     understanding under paragraph (1). With the assistance of the 
     State Early Learning Council and the State Director of Head 
     Start Collaboration, all parties shall again attempt to enter 
     into a memorandum of understanding under paragraph (1). Then 
     if no such memorandum of understanding is entered into, the 
     Secretary shall make 1 of the following determinations:
       ``(i) The local educational agency, local council, or other 
     appropriate entity is unable or unwilling to enter into such 
     a memorandum despite reasonable efforts on the part of the 
     Head Start agency.
       ``(ii) The Head Start agency has not engaged in reasonable 
     efforts to successfully negotiate and enter into a memorandum 
     of understanding pursuant to paragraph (1).
       ``(iii) There is an absence of publicly funded 
     prekindergarten in the service area of the Head Start agency.
       ``(B) If the Secretary determines the Head Start agency is 
     not making reasonable efforts to enter into a memorandum of 
     understanding pursuant to paragraph (1), the Head Start 
     agency shall be found to be noncompliant with program 
     performance standards.
       ``(C) If the Secretary concludes that the local educational 
     agency, local council, or other appropriate entity is not 
     making reasonable efforts to reach such a memorandum of 
     understanding, the Head Start agency shall not be found out 
     of compliance with paragraph (1).
       ``(4) Revision of memoranda.--Each memorandum of 
     understanding shall be revised and renewed annually by the 
     parties to such memorandum, in alignment with the beginning 
     of the school year.
       ``(5) Absence of prekindergarten.--In the absence of 
     publicly funded prekindergarten in the service area of a Head 
     Start agency, the Head Start agency shall submit notice to 
     the Secretary and the chief executive officer of the State 
     and shall work with the State Early Learning Council and the 
     State Director of Head Start Collaboration to improve 
     coordination in their service area.
       ``(b) State Early Learning Councils.--From the amounts 
     reserved under section 640(a)(2)(C)(iii), the Secretary shall 
     award, upon submission of a written request and pursuant to 
     the requirements of paragraph (2), an early learning 
     collaboration grant to each State for the purposes of 
     supporting a State Early Learning Council responsible for 
     advancing the development of a coordinated early childhood 
     services delivery system in the State. A State that receives 
     a grant under this subparagraph shall--
       ``(1) establish a State Early Learning Council, which shall 
     include--
       ``(A) the State Director of Head Start Collaboration;
       ``(B) representatives from the State preschool programs;
       ``(C) representatives of local educational agencies;
       ``(D) the State official who oversees child care programs;
       ``(E) the State official who oversees section 619 and part 
     C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 
     U.S.C. 1419, 1431 et seq.);
       ``(F) the State official who oversees the State educational 
     agency;
       ``(G) representatives from Head Start agencies located in 
     the State, including migrant and seasonal Head Start programs 
     and Indian Head Start programs;
       ``(H) representatives of local child care programs or 
     organizations; and
       ``(I) a representative of the State agency responsible for 
     health and mental health care;

     except that the chief executive officer of the State may 
     designate an existing entity to serve as the Early Learning 
     Council if such entity includes representatives described in 
     this paragraph;
       ``(2) ensure that allotted funds distributed to a State for 
     a fiscal year to carry out this subsection may be used by the 
     State to pay not more than 50 percent of the cost of carrying 
     out this subsection;
       ``(3) direct the early learning council to improve the 
     coordination and quality of early childhood services within 
     the State, including--
       ``(A) to increase coordination and collaboration among 
     State preschool, Head Start programs, child care programs, 
     early childhood special education, and other early childhood 
     programs, including in the areas of outcomes and standards, 
     technical assistance, coordination of services, cross-sector 
     professional development and training, community outreach, 
     communication, and better serving the needs of working 
     families through provision of full-day and full-year early 
     education services;
       ``(B) to work with State agencies responsible for 
     education, child care, and early intervention to provide 
     leadership and assistance to local Head Start programs, local 
     education agencies, and State and locally funded preschool 
     and child care programs to increase integration among early 
     childhood programs through adoption of local memoranda of 
     understanding described in subparagraph (A) and other means;
       ``(C) to work with State agencies responsible for 
     education, child care, and early intervention to provide 
     leadership and assistance to develop developmentally 
     appropriate standards for children birth through the early 
     elementary grades to effect a smooth transition to and 
     success in the early elementary grades;
       ``(D) to develop or conduct periodic Statewide needs 
     assessments concerning early care and education programs for 
     children from birth to school entry;
       ``(E) to work to identify and address barriers to and 
     opportunities for integration between entities carrying out 
     Federal and State child development, child care, and early 
     childhood education programs;
       ``(F) to develop recommendations regarding means of 
     establishing a unified data collection system for early care 
     and education programs operating throughout the State;
       ``(G) to address coordination of early learning programs 
     with health care (including mental and behavioral health 
     care), welfare, family literacy and services for homeless 
     children;
       ``(H) to support a State system of early childhood 
     education, and training and technical assistance that 
     improves the quality of early learning programs and the 
     capacity of such programs to deliver services pursuant to 
     section 648(b);
       ``(I) to develop a plan for increasing the participation of 
     children underrepresented in State early childhood education 
     and child care programs, including Head Start, State 
     preschool programs, and programs carried out under the Child 
     Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 
     et seq.);
       ``(J) developing a Statewide professional development and 
     career ladder plan for early care and education in the State; 
     and
       ``(K) assisting 2- and 4-year public and private 
     institutions of higher education to develop articulation 
     agreements concerning degrees in early childhood and related 
     fields.
       ``(4) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to 
     provide the Early Learning Council with authority to modify, 
     supersede, or affect the operation of this subchapter.
       ``(5) Funds made available under this section shall be used 
     to supplement, and not supplant, other Federal, State, and 
     local funds that would otherwise be expended to carry out the 
     purposes of this section.''.

     SEC. 11. ADMINISTRATIVE REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS.

       Section 644 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9839) is 
     amended--
       (1) by amending subsection (a) to read as follows:
       ``(a) In General.--
       ``(1) Standards.--Each Head Start agency shall observe 
     standards of organization, management, and administration 
     which will ensure, so far as reasonably possible, that all 
     program activities are conducted in a manner consistent with 
     the purposes of this subchapter and the objective of 
     providing assistance effectively, efficiently, and free of 
     any taint of partisan political bias or personal or family 
     favoritism. Each such agency shall establish or adopt rules 
     to carry out this section, which shall include rules to 
     assure full staff accountability in matters governed by law, 
     regulations, or agency policy. Each agency shall also provide 
     for reasonable public access to information, including public 
     hearings at the request of appropriate community groups and 
     reasonable public access to books and records of the agency 
     or other agencies engaged in program activities or operations

[[Page H4347]]

     involving the use of authority or funds for which it is 
     responsible.
       ``(2) Annual report.--Each Head Start agency shall make 
     available to the public a report published at least once in 
     each fiscal year that discloses the following information 
     from the then most recently concluded fiscal year, except 
     that reporting such information shall not reveal personally 
     identifiable information about an individual child or parent:
       ``(A) The total amount of public and private funds received 
     and the amount from each source.
       ``(B) An explanation of budgetary expenditures and proposed 
     budget for the following fiscal year.
       ``(C) The total number of children and families served and 
     percent of average monthly enrollment, including the percent 
     of eligible children served.
       ``(D) The results of the most recent review by the 
     Secretary and the financial audit.
       ``(E) The percentage of enrolled children that received 
     medical and dental exams.
       ``(F) Information about parent involvement activities.
       ``(G) The agency's efforts to prepare children for 
     kindergarten.
       ``(H) Any other information required by the Secretary.
       ``(3) Procedural conduct.--Each such agency shall adopt for 
     itself and other agencies using funds or exercising authority 
     for which it is responsible, rules designed to--
       ``(A) establish specific standards governing salaries, 
     salary increases, travel and per diem allowances, and other 
     employee benefits;
       ``(B) assure that only persons capable of discharging their 
     duties with competence and integrity are employed and that 
     employees are promoted or advanced under impartial procedures 
     calculated to improve agency performance and effectiveness;
       ``(C) guard against personal or financial conflicts of 
     interest; and
       ``(D) define employee duties in an appropriate manner which 
     will in any case preclude employees from participating, in 
     connection with the performance of their duties, in any form 
     of picketing, protest, or other direct action which is in 
     violation of law.'', and
       (2) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
       ``(f) Facilities.--
       ``(1) The Secretary shall establish uniform procedures for 
     Head Start agencies to request approval to purchase 
     facilities, or to request approval of the purchase (after 
     December 31, 1986) of facilities, to be used to carry out 
     Head Start programs. The Secretary shall suspend any 
     proceedings pending against any Head Start agency to claim 
     costs incurred in purchasing such facilities until the agency 
     has been afforded an opportunity to apply for approval of the 
     purchase and the Secretary has determined whether the 
     purchase will be approved. The Secretary shall not be 
     required to repay claims previously satisfied by Head Start 
     agencies for costs incurred in the purchase of such 
     facilities.
       ``(2) Financial assistance provided under this subchapter 
     may not be used by a Head Start agency to purchase a facility 
     (including paying the cost of amortizing the principal and 
     paying interest on loans) to be used to carry out a Head 
     Start program unless the Secretary approves a request that is 
     submitted by such agency and contains--
       ``(A) a description of the consultation conducted by the 
     Head Start agency with the providers in the community 
     demonstrating capacity and capability to provide services 
     under this subchapter, and of the potential for collaboration 
     with such providers and the cost effectiveness of such 
     collaboration as opposed to the cost effectiveness of the 
     purchase of a facility;
       ``(B) a description of the site of the facility proposed to 
     be purchased or that was previously purchased;
       ``(C) the plans and specifications of such facility;
       ``(D) information demonstrating that--
       ``(i) the proposed purchase will result, or the previous 
     purchase has resulted, in savings when compared to the costs 
     that would be incurred to acquire the use of an alternative 
     facility to carry out such program; or
       ``(ii) the lack of alternative facilities will prevent, or 
     would have prevented, the operation of such program;
       ``(E) in the case of a request regarding a previously 
     purchased facility, information demonstrating that the 
     facility will be used principally as a Head Start center, or 
     a direct support facility for a Head Start program; and
       ``(F) such other information and assurances as the 
     Secretary may require.
       ``(3) Upon a determination by the Secretary that suitable 
     facilities are not otherwise available to Indian tribes to 
     carry out Head Start programs, and that the lack of suitable 
     facilities will inhibit the operation of such programs, the 
     Secretary may authorize the use of financial assistance, from 
     the amount reserved under section 640(a)(2)(A), to make 
     payments for the purchase of facilities owned by such tribes. 
     The amount of such a payment for such a facility shall not 
     exceed the fair market value of the facility.''.

     SEC. 12. PARTICIPATION IN HEAD START PROGRAMS.

       Section 645 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by amending paragraph (1)(B)(i) to read as follows:
       ``(i) programs assisted under this subchapter may include, 
     to a reasonable extent, participation of children in the area 
     served who would benefit from such programs, including 
     children referred by child welfare services, but whose 
     families do not meet the low-income criteria prescribed 
     pursuant to subparagraph (A) (A homeless child shall be 
     deemed to meet the low-income criteria.); and'', and
       (B) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) The amount of a basic allowance provided under 
     section 403 of title 37, United States Code, on behalf of an 
     individual who is a member of the uniformed services for 
     housing that is acquired or constructed under the authority 
     of subchapter IV of chapter 169 of title 10, United States 
     Code, or any other related provision of law, shall not be 
     considered to be income for purposes of determining the 
     eligibility of a child of the individual for programs 
     assisted under this subchapter.
       ``(4)(A) Upon written request and pursuant to the 
     requirements of this paragraph, a Head Start agency may use 
     funds under section 640(a) to serve infants and toddlers if 
     the agency submits an application to the Secretary containing 
     the following information, as specified in rules issued by 
     the Secretary--
       ``(i) the amount of funds under section 640(a) that are 
     proposed to be used in accordance with section 645A(b);
       ``(ii) a community-wide needs assessment demonstrating how 
     the use of such funds would best meet the needs of the 
     community;
       ``(iii) a description of how the needs of pregnant women, 
     and of infants and toddlers, will be addressed in accordance 
     with section 645A(b), and with regulations prescribed by the 
     Secretary pursuant to section 641A in areas including the 
     agency's approach to child development and provision of 
     health services, approach to family and community 
     partnerships, and approach to program design and management;
       ``(iv) a description of how the needs of eligible Head 
     Start children will be met in the community;
       ``(v) assurances that the agency will participate in 
     technical assistance activities (including a planning period, 
     start-up site visits, and national training activities) in 
     the same manner as recipients of grants under section 645A; 
     and
       ``(vi) evidence that the agency meets the same eligibility 
     criteria as recipients of grants under section 645A.
       ``(B) An application that satisfies the requirements 
     specified in subparagraph (A) shall be approved by the 
     Secretary unless the Secretary finds that--
       ``(i) the agency lacks adequate capacity and capability to 
     carry out an effective Early Head Start program; or
       ``(ii) the information provided under subparagraph (A) is 
     inadequate.
       ``(C) Any Head Start agency approved under subparagraph (B) 
     shall be considered to be an entity that receives assistance 
     under section 645A, and such funds under (i) shall be subject 
     to the same rules, regulations, and conditions as apply to 
     recipients of grants under section 645A.
       ``(5)(A) Upon written request and pursuant to the 
     requirements of this paragraph, a Head Start agency may 
     consider children from low-income families to be eligible for 
     participation in programs assisted under this subchapter if 
     their family income is at or above the poverty line but below 
     130 percent of the poverty line, if the agency submits an 
     application to the Secretary containing the following 
     information, as specified in rules issued by the Secretary--
       ``(i) a description of how the needs of eligible Head Start 
     children, as described in paragraph (1)(A) are being 
     adequately met in the agency's service area;
       ``(ii) a description of outreach efforts to the community 
     to reach full enrollment under the eligibility guidelines 
     under paragraph (1), including using outreach efforts that 
     are linguistically and culturally appropriate;
       ``(iii) assurance that the agency will prioritize serving 
     children currently eligible under the guidelines under 
     paragraph (1); and
       ``(iv) a description of why increasing the number of 
     infants and toddlers being served, as described in paragraph 
     (4), is not appropriate based upon the communitywide needs 
     assessment or the agency's capability.
       ``(B) In approving such applications, the Secretary shall 
     take into account the--
       ``(i) cost of living for families living the area served by 
     the Head Start agency;
       ``(ii) the efforts the Head Start agency has undertaken to 
     be fully enrolled under the eligibility criteria in paragraph 
     (1); and
       ``(iii) the policies and procedures the Head Start agency 
     will implement to ensure that children currently eligible 
     under the criteria described under paragraph (1) will be 
     prioritized.
       ``(C) No more than 20 percent of children served by such 
     Head Start agency may be from families above the poverty 
     line.'',
       (2) in subsection (c) by striking ``(age 3 to compulsory 
     school attendance)'', and
       (3) in subsection (d) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, an 
     Indian tribe that operates both a Head Start program and an 
     Early Head Start program under section 645A may, at its 
     discretion, at any time during the grant period involved, 
     reallocate funds between the Head Start program and the Early 
     Head Start program in order to address fluctuations in client 
     population, including pregnant women and children birth to 
     compulsory school age. The reallocation of such funds between 
     programs by an Indian tribe shall not serve as the basis for 
     the Secretary to reduce a base grant (as defined in section 
     641A(g)(1)) for either program in succeeding years.''.

     SEC. 13. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS.

       Section 645A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840a) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 645A. EARLY HEAD START PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES WITH 
                   CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OF AGE.

       ``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants, in 
     accordance with this section for programs (to be known as 
     `Early Head Start programs') that provide family-centered 
     services for

[[Page H4348]]

     low-income families with very young children designed to 
     promote the development of the children, and to enable their 
     parents to fulfill their roles as parents and to move toward 
     self-sufficiency.
       ``(b) Scope and Design of Programs.--In carrying out a 
     program described in subsection (a), an entity receiving 
     assistance under this section shall--
       ``(1) provide, either directly or through referral, early, 
     continuous, intensive, and comprehensive child development 
     and family support services that will enhance the physical, 
     social, emotional, and intellectual development of 
     participating children;
       ``(2) ensure that the level of services provided to 
     families responds to their needs and circumstances;
       ``(3) promote positive parent-child interactions;
       ``(4) provide services to parents to support their role as 
     parents (including parenting skills training and training in 
     basic child development) and to help the families move toward 
     self-sufficiency (including educational and employment 
     services as appropriate);
       ``(5) coordinate services with services provided by 
     programs in the State (including home-based services) and 
     programs in the community (including programs for infants and 
     toddlers with disabilities and programs for homeless infants 
     and toddlers) to ensure a comprehensive array of services 
     (such as health and mental health services and family support 
     services);
       ``(6) ensure formal linkages with local Head Start programs 
     in order to provide for continuity of services for children 
     and families;
       ``(7) in the case of a Head Start agency that operates a 
     program and that also provides Head Start services through 
     the age of mandatory school attendance, ensure that children 
     and families participating in the program receive such 
     services through such age;
       ``(8) ensure formal linkages with the agencies and entities 
     described in section 644(b) of the Individuals with 
     Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1444(b)) and providers 
     of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with 
     disabilities under the Individuals with Disabilities 
     Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.) and the agency 
     responsible for administering section 106 of the Child Abuse 
     Prevention and Treatment Act (42 U.S.C. 5106a);
       ``(9) develop and implement a systematic procedure for 
     transitioning children and parents from an Early Head Start 
     program under this section into a Head Start program or other 
     local early childhood education program;
       ``(10) establish channels of communication between staff of 
     Early Head Start programs under this section and staff of 
     Head Start programs or other local early childhood education 
     programs, to facilitate the coordination of programs; and
       ``(11) meet such other requirements concerning design and 
     operation of the program described in subsection (a) as the 
     Secretary may establish.
       ``(c) Persons Eligible To Participate.--Persons who may 
     participate in programs described in subsection (a) include--
       ``(1) pregnant women; and
       ``(2) families with children under age 3;

     who meet the income criteria specified for families in 
     section 645(a)(1).
       ``(d) Eligible Service Providers.--To be eligible to 
     receive assistance under this section, an entity shall submit 
     an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, 
     and containing such information as the Secretary may require. 
     Entities that may apply to carry out activities under this 
     section include--
       ``(1) entities operating Head Start programs under this 
     subpart;
       ``(2) Indian Head Start programs; and
       ``(3) other public entities, and nonprofit or for-profit 
     private entities, including community-based and faith-based 
     organizations, capable of providing child and family services 
     that meet the standards for participation in programs under 
     this subchapter and meet such other appropriate requirements 
     relating to the activities under this section as the 
     Secretary may establish.
       ``(e) Selection of Grant Recipients.--From the portion 
     specified in section 640(a)(6), the Secretary shall award 
     grants under this subsection on a competitive basis to 
     applicants meeting the criteria specified in subsection (d) 
     (giving priority to entities with a record of providing 
     early, continuous, and comprehensive childhood development 
     and family services).
       ``(f) Distribution.--In awarding grants to eligible 
     applicants under this section, the Secretary shall--
       ``(1) ensure an equitable national geographic distribution 
     of the grants; and
       ``(2) award grants to applicants proposing to serve 
     communities in rural areas and to applicants proposing to 
     serve communities in urban areas.
       ``(g) Monitoring, Training, Technical Assistance, and 
     Evaluation.--
       ``(1) Requirement.--To ensure the successful operation of 
     programs assisted under this section, the Secretary shall use 
     funds from the portion specified in section 640(a)(6) to 
     monitor the operation of such programs, evaluate their 
     effectiveness, and provide training and technical assistance 
     tailored to the particular needs of such programs.
       ``(2) Training and technical assistance account.--
       ``(A) In general.--Of the amount made available to carry 
     out this section for any fiscal year, not less than 5 percent 
     and not more than 10 percent shall be reserved to fund a 
     training and technical assistance account.
       ``(B) Activities.--Funds in the account may be used by the 
     Secretary for purposes including--
       ``(i) making grants to, and entering into contracts with, 
     organizations with specialized expertise relating to infants, 
     toddlers, and families and the capacity needed to provide 
     direction and support to a national training and technical 
     assistance system, in order to provide such direction and 
     support;
       ``(ii) providing ongoing training and technical assistance 
     for regional and program staff charged with monitoring and 
     overseeing the administration of the program carried out 
     under this section;
       ``(iii) providing ongoing training and technical assistance 
     for existing recipients (as of the date of such training or 
     assistance) of grants under subsection (a) and support and 
     program planning and implementation assistance for new 
     recipients of such grants;
       ``(iv) providing professional development and personnel 
     enhancement activities, including the provision of funds to 
     recipients of grants under subsection (a) for the recruitment 
     and retention of qualified staff with an appropriate level of 
     education and experience; and
       ``(v) providing professional development designed to 
     increase program participation for underserved populations of 
     eligible children.
       ``(h) Center-Based Staff.--The Secretary shall ensure that, 
     not later than September 30, 2009, all teachers providing 
     direct services to children and families participating in 
     early Head Start programs located in early Head Start centers 
     have a minimum of a child development associate credential, 
     and have been trained (or have equivalent course work) in 
     early childhood development.
       ``(i) Staff Qualifications and Development.--
       ``(1) Home visitor staff standards.--In order to further 
     enhance the quality of home visiting services provided to 
     families of children participating in home-based, center-
     based, or combination program options under this subchapter, 
     the Secretary shall establish standards for training, 
     qualifications, and the conduct of home visits for home 
     visitor staff in Early Head Start programs.
       ``(2) Contents of standards.--The standards for training, 
     qualifications, and the conduct of home visits shall include 
     content related to--
       ``(A) structured child-focused home visiting that promotes 
     parents' ability to support the child's cognitive, social, 
     emotional, and physical development;
       ``(B) effective strengths-based parent education, including 
     methods to encourage parents as their child's first teachers;
       ``(C) early childhood development with respect to children 
     from birth through age 3;
       ``(D) methods to help parents promote emergent literacy in 
     their children from birth through age 3;
       ``(E) ascertaining what health and developmental services 
     the family receives and working with these providers to 
     eliminate gaps in service by offering annual health, vision, 
     hearing, and developmental screening for children from birth 
     to entry into kindergarten, when needed;
       ``(F) strategies for helping families coping with crisis; 
     and
       ``(G) the relationship of health and well-being of pregnant 
     women to prenatal and early child development.''.

     SEC. 14. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR HEALTH CARE 
                   SERVICES.

       The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831) is amended by inserting 
     after section 645A the following:

     ``SEC. 645B. PARENTAL CONSENT REQUIREMENT FOR HEALTH CARE 
                   SERVICES.

       ``(a) Definitions.--For purposes of this section:
       ``(1) The term `health care service' includes--
       ``(A) any nonemergency intrusive physical examination; and
       ``(B) any screening, including but not limited to, a 
     medical, dental, developmental, mental health, social, or 
     behavioral screening.
       ``(2) The term `nonemergency intrusive physical 
     examination' means, with respect to a child, a physical 
     examination that--
       ``(A) is not immediately necessary to protect the health or 
     safety of such child, or the health or safety of another 
     individual; and
       ``(B) includes incision or is otherwise invasive, or 
     includes exposure of private body parts.
       ``(b) Requirement.--Before administering any health care 
     service to a child (or referring a child to obtain such 
     service) in connection with participation in a program under 
     this subchapter, a Head Start agency and an entity that 
     receives assistance under section 645A shall obtain the 
     written consent of a parent of such child indicating consent 
     for each specific health care service to be performed.
       ``(c) Rule of Construction.--
       ``(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed to 
     prohibit a Head Start agency or an entity that receives 
     assistance under section 645A from using established methods 
     for handling cases of suspected or known child abuse and 
     neglect, that are in compliance with applicable Federal, 
     State, or tribal law.
       ``(2) Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to 
     permit a Head Start agency, an entity that receives 
     assistance under section 645A, or the personnel of such 
     agency or entity to administer any health care service to a 
     child (or to refer a child to obtain such service) without 
     the informed written consent of a parent of such child 
     indicating consent for each specific health care service to 
     be performed.
       ``(3) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require 
     a Head Start agency or an entity that receives assistance 
     under section 645A to provide separate consent forms for each 
     specific health care service.''.

     SEC. 15. APPEALS, NOTICE, AND HEARING.

       Section 646(a)(3) of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 
     9841(a)(3)) is amended to read as follows:
       ``(3) if financial assistance under this subchapter is 
     terminated or reduced, an application for a noncompeting 
     continuation award is denied based on a previous failure to 
     comply with terms applicable to financial assistance 
     previously provided under this subchapter, or suspension of 
     financial assistance is continued for

[[Page H4349]]

     more than 30 days, the recipient with respect to whom such 
     action is taken shall have the opportunity to appeal such 
     action in accordance with such procedures, except that no 
     funds made available under this subchapter may be used to 
     reimburse any such recipient for legal fees and other costs 
     incurred in pursuing such an appeal; and''.

     SEC. 16. RECORDS AND AUDITS.

       Section 647 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9842) is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Each recipient of financial assistance under this 
     subchapter shall--
       ``(1) maintain, and annually submit to the Secretary, a 
     complete accounting of its administrative expenses (including 
     a detailed statement identifying the amount of financial 
     assistance provided under this subchapter used to pay 
     expenses for salaries and compensation and the amount (if 
     any) of other funds used to pay such expenses);
       ``(2) within 30 days after the completion of an audit 
     conducted in the manner and to the extent provided in chapter 
     75 of title 31, United States Code (commonly known as the 
     `Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996'), submit to the 
     Secretary a copy of the audit management letter and of any 
     audit findings as it relates to the Head Start program; and
       ``(3) provide such additional documentation as the 
     Secretary may require.''.

     SEC. 17. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

       Section 648 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 648. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND TRAINING.

       ``(a) The Secretary shall provide, directly or through 
     grants or other arrangements--
       ``(1) technical assistance to communities in developing, 
     conducting, and administering programs under this subchapter; 
     and
       ``(2) training for specialized or other personnel needed in 
     connection with Head Start programs, in accordance with the 
     process, and the provisions for allocating resources, set 
     forth in subsections (b) and (c).
       ``(b) The process for determining the technical assistance 
     and training activities to be carried out under this section 
     shall--
       ``(1) ensure that the needs of local Head Start agencies 
     and programs relating to improving program quality and to 
     program expansion are addressed to the maximum extent 
     feasible;
       ``(2) incorporate mechanisms to ensure responsiveness to 
     local needs, including an ongoing procedure for obtaining 
     input from the individuals and agencies carrying out Head 
     Start programs; and
       ``(3) ensure the provision of technical assistance to 
     assist Head Start agencies, entities carrying out other child 
     care and early childhood programs, communities, and States in 
     collaborative efforts to provide quality full-working-day, 
     full calendar year services, including technical assistance 
     related to identifying and assisting in resolving barriers to 
     collaboration.
       ``(c) In allocating resources for technical assistance and 
     training under this section, the Secretary shall--
       ``(1) give priority consideration to--
       ``(A) activities to correct program and management 
     deficiencies identified through reviews carried out pursuant 
     to section 641A(c) (including the provision of assistance to 
     local programs in the development of quality improvement 
     plans under section 641A(d)(2)); and
       ``(B) assisting Head Start agencies in--
       ``(i) ensuring the school readiness of children; and
       ``(ii) meeting the educational performance measures 
     described in section 641A(b)(4);
       ``(2) supplement amounts provided under section 
     640(a)(3)(C)(ii) in order to address the training and career 
     development needs of classroom staff (including instruction 
     for providing services to children with disabilities), and 
     nonclassroom staff, including home visitors and other staff 
     working directly with families, including training relating 
     to increasing parent involvement and services designed to 
     increase family literacy and improve parenting skills;
       ``(3) assist Head Start agencies in the development of 
     collaborative initiatives with States and other entities 
     within the States, to foster effective early childhood 
     professional development systems;
       ``(4) provide technical assistance and training, either 
     directly or through a grant, contract, or cooperative 
     agreement with an entity that has experience in the 
     development and operation of successful family literacy 
     services programs, for the purpose of--
       ``(A) assisting Head Start agencies providing family 
     literacy services, in order to improve the quality of such 
     family literacy services; and
       ``(B) enabling those Head Start agencies that demonstrate 
     effective provision of family literacy services, based on 
     improved outcomes for children and their parents, to provide 
     technical assistance and training to other Head Start 
     agencies and to service providers that work in collaboration 
     with such agencies to provide family literacy services;
       ``(5) assist Head Start agencies and programs in conducting 
     and participating in community-wide strategic planning and 
     needs assessment, including the needs of homeless children 
     and their families;
       ``(6) assist Head Start agencies and programs in developing 
     and implementing full-working-day and full-calendar-year 
     programs where community need is clearly identified and 
     making the transition to such programs, with particular 
     attention to involving parents and programming for children 
     throughout the day, and assist the agencies and programs in 
     expediting the sharing of information about innovative models 
     for providing full-working-day, full calendar year services 
     for children;
       ``(7) assist Head Start agencies in better serving the 
     needs of families with very young children;
       ``(8) assist Head Start agencies and programs in the 
     development of sound management practices, including 
     financial management procedures;
       ``(9) assist in efforts to secure and maintain adequate 
     facilities for Head Start programs;
       ``(10) assist Head Start agencies in developing innovative 
     program models, including mobile and home-based programs;
       ``(11) provide support for Head Start agencies (including 
     policy councils and policy committees) that meet the 
     standards described in section 641A(a) but that have, as 
     documented by the Secretary through reviews conducted 
     pursuant to section 641A(c), significant programmatic, 
     quality, and fiscal issues to address;
       ``(12) assist Head Start agencies and programs in 
     increasing program participation of homeless children;
       ``(13) assist Head Start agencies and Head Start programs 
     in improving outreach to, and the quality of services 
     available to, limited English proficient children and their 
     families, particularly in communities that have experienced a 
     large percentage increase in the population of limited 
     English proficient individuals, as measured by the Bureau of 
     the Census;
       ``(14) assist Head Start agencies in developing appropriate 
     methods and approaches for identifying and working with 
     children and families experiencing toxic stress;
       ``(15) assist programs in improving outreach to serve 
     additional children with disabilities, if such program's 
     enrollment opportunities or funded enrollment for children 
     with disabilities is less than 10 percent; and
       ``(16) provide assistance to address and remove barriers 
     related to recruitment and retention of Head Start teachers 
     for rural communities, and remove barriers related to 
     outreach efforts to eligible families in rural communities.
       ``(d) The Secretary may provide, either directly or through 
     grants to public or private nonprofit entities, training for 
     Head Start personnel in the use of the performing and visual 
     arts and interactive programs using electronic media to 
     enhance the learning experience of Head Start children. 
     Special consideration shall be given to entities that have 
     demonstrated effectiveness in educational programming for 
     preschool children that includes components for parental 
     involvement, care provider training, and developmentally 
     appropriate related activities.
       ``(e) The Secretary shall provide, either directly or 
     through grants or other arrangements, funds from programs 
     authorized under this subchapter to support an organization 
     to administer a centralized child development and national 
     assessment program leading to recognized credentials for 
     personnel working in early childhood development and child 
     care programs, training for personnel providing services to 
     limited English proficient children (including services to 
     promote the acquisition of the English language), training 
     for personnel providing services to children determined to be 
     abused or neglected, training for personnel providing 
     services to children referred by or receiving child welfare 
     services, training for personnel in helping children cope 
     with community violence, resource access projects for 
     personnel working with disabled children, and training for 
     appropriate personnel to recognize common health, including 
     mental health, problems in children for appropriate referral.
       ``(f) The Secretary shall provide, either directly or 
     through grants, or other arrangements, funds for training of 
     Head Start personnel in addressing the unique needs of 
     migrant and seasonal working families, families with 1 or 
     more children with disabilities, families with a limited 
     English proficiency, homeless families, and children and 
     families experiencing toxic stress.
       ``(g) More than 50 percent of funds expended under this 
     section shall be used to provide high quality, sustained, 
     intensive, and classroom-focused training and technical 
     assistance in order to have a positive and lasting impact on 
     classroom instruction. Funds shall be used to carry out 
     activities related to any or all of the following:
       ``(1) Education and early childhood development.
       ``(2) Child health, nutrition, and safety.
       ``(3) Family and community partnerships and services.
       ``(4) Other areas that impact the quality or overall 
     effectiveness of Head Start programs.
       ``(h) The Secretary shall develop and implement a program 
     of outreach to recruit and train minority men to become Head 
     Start teachers in order to reflect the communities in which 
     Head Start children live and to increase the provision of 
     quality services and instruction to children with diverse 
     backgrounds.
       ``(i) Funds under this subchapter used for training shall 
     be used for needs identified annually by a grant applicant or 
     delegate agency in their program improvement plan, except 
     that funds shall not be used for long-distance travel 
     expenses for training activities available locally or 
     regionally or for training activities substantially similar 
     to locally or regionally available training activities.
       ``(j) Funds made available under section 640(a)(2)(C)(i) 
     shall be used by a Head Start agency for any of the 
     following:
       ``(1) Activities that ensure that Head Start programs meet 
     or exceed the program performance standards described in 
     section 641A(a)(1).
       ``(2) Activities that ensure that Head Start programs have 
     adequate numbers of trained, qualified staff who have skills 
     in working with children and families, including children and 
     families who are limited English proficient and children with 
     disabilities.
       ``(3) Activities to pay expenses, including direct training 
     for expert consultants working with any staff, to improve the 
     management and implementation of Head Start services and 
     systems.

[[Page H4350]]

       ``(4) Activities that help ensure that Head Start programs 
     have qualified staff who can promote language skills and 
     literacy growth of children and who can provide children with 
     a variety of skills that have been identified as predictive 
     of later reading achievement, school success, and the skills, 
     knowledge, abilities, development, and progress described in 
     section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii).
       ``(5) Activities to improve staff qualifications and to 
     assist with the implementation of career development programs 
     and to encourage the staff to continually improve their 
     skills and expertise, including developing partnerships with 
     programs that recruit, train, place, and support college 
     students in Head Start centers to deliver an innovative early 
     learning program to preschool children.
       ``(6) Activities that help local programs ensure that the 
     arrangement, condition, and implementation of the learning 
     environments in Head Start programs are conducive to 
     providing effective program services to children and 
     families.
       ``(7) Activities to provide training necessary to improve 
     the qualifications of Head Start staff and to support staff 
     training, child counseling, health services, and other 
     services necessary to address the needs of children enrolled 
     in Head Start programs, including children from families in 
     crises, children who experience chronic violence or 
     homelessness, children who experience substance abuse in 
     their families, and children under 3 years of age, where 
     applicable.
       ``(8) Activities to provide classes or in-service-type 
     programs to improve or enhance parenting skills, job skills, 
     adult and family literacy, including financial literacy, or 
     training to become a classroom aide or bus driver in a Head 
     Start program.
       ``(9) Additional activities deemed appropriate to the 
     improvement of Head Start agencies' programs, as determined 
     by the agencies' technical assistance and training plans.
       ``(10) Any other activities regarding the use of funds as 
     determined by the Secretary.
       ``(k) The Secretary shall--
       ``(1) work in collaboration with the Head Start agencies 
     that carry out Indian Head Start programs, the Indian Head 
     Start collaboration director, and other appropriate entities, 
     including tribal governments and the National Indian Head 
     Start Directors Association--
       ``(A) to undertake a study or set of studies designed to 
     focus on the American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start-
     eligible population, with a focus on issues such as 
     curriculum development, availability and need for services, 
     appropriate research methodologies and measures for these 
     populations, and best practices for teaching and educating 
     American Indian and Alaska Native Head Start Children;
       ``(B) to accurately determine the number of children 
     nationwide who are eligible to participate in Indian Head 
     Start programs each year;
       ``(C) to document how many of these children are receiving 
     Head Start services each year;
       ``(D) to the extent practicable, to ensure that access to 
     Indian Head Start programs for eligible children is 
     comparable to access to other Head Start programs for other 
     eligible children; and
       ``(E) to make the funding decisions required in section 
     640(a)(2)(A)(iii), after completion of the studies required 
     in that section, taking into account:
       ``(i) the Federal government's unique trust responsibility 
     to American Indians and Alaska Natives;
       ``(ii) limitations faced by tribal communities in accessing 
     non-Federal sources of funding to supplement Federal funding 
     for early childhood programs; and
       ``(iii) other factors that uniquely and adversely impact 
     children in American Indian and Alaska Native communities 
     such as highly elevated poverty, unemployment and violent 
     crime rates, as well as depressed levels of educational 
     achievement and limited access to non-Federal health, social 
     and educational resources;
       ``(2) in carrying out paragraph (1), consult with the 
     Secretary of Education about the Department of Education's 
     systems for collecting and reporting data about, and 
     maintaining records on, American Indian and Alaska Native 
     students;
       ``(3) not later than 9 months after the effective date of 
     this subsection, publish in the Federal Register a notice of 
     how the Secretary plans to carry out paragraph (1) and shall 
     provide a period for public comment. To the extent 
     practicable, the Secretary shall consider comments received 
     before submitting a report to the Congress;
       ``(4) not later than 1 year after the effective date of 
     this subsection, submit a report to the Committee on 
     Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the 
     Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
     Senate, detailing how the Department of Health and Human 
     Services plans to carry out paragraph (1);
       ``(5) through regulation, ensure the confidentiality of any 
     personally identifiable data, information, and records 
     collected or maintained by the Secretary, by Head Start 
     agencies that carry out Indian Head Start programs, and by 
     State Directors of Head Start Collaboration, by the Indian 
     Head Start Collaboration Project Director and by other 
     appropriate entities pursuant to this subsection (Such 
     regulations shall provide the policies, protections, and 
     rights equivalent to those provided a parent, student, or 
     educational agency or institution under section 444 of the 
     General Education Provisions Act.); and
       ``(6) ensure that nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed to authorize the development of a nationwide 
     database of personally identifiable information on 
     individuals involved in studies or other collections of data 
     under this subsection.
       ``(l) The Secretary shall--
       ``(1) in order to increase access to Head Start services 
     for eligible migrant and seasonal children, work in 
     collaboration with migrant and seasonal Head Start providers, 
     the Department of Agriculture (land grant universities), the 
     Department of Labor, the Bureau of Migrant Health, and the 
     Department of Education to--
       ``(A) establish a system for collecting and reporting data 
     on farm workers and their families in order to adequately 
     account for the number of seasonal and migrant children that 
     are eligible for Head Start and determine how many of these 
     eligible children receive services;
       ``(B) identify barriers that prevent eligible migrant and 
     seasonal children from accessing Head Start services and 
     develop a plan for eliminating barriers and increasing 
     enrollment; and
       ``(C) develop a system through which migrant and seasonal 
     Head Start programs can effectively track health records and 
     educational documents as a child moves from state to state;
       ``(2) not later than 6 months after the effective date of 
     this subsection, publish in the Federal Register a notice on 
     how the Secretary plans to carry out the activities 
     identified in paragraph (1) and shall provide a period for 
     public comment. To the extent practicable, the Secretary 
     shall consider comments received before implementing any of 
     the activities identified in paragraph (1);
       ``(3) not later than 1 year after the effective date of 
     this subsection, submit a report to the Committee on 
     Education and Labor of the House of Representatives and the 
     Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee of the Senate 
     detailing how the Secretary plans to carry out the activities 
     identified in (1);
       ``(4) submit a report to Congress annually on the migrant 
     and seasonal Head Start program including a report on the 
     progress made in carrying out the activities identified in 
     paragraph (1), the progress made in reaching out to and 
     serving eligible migrant and seasonal children, and 
     information on states where migrant and seasonal children are 
     still underserved;
       ``(5) through regulation, ensure the protection of the 
     confidentiality of any personally identifiable data, 
     information, and records collected or maintained by the 
     Secretary, by Head Start agencies that carry out migrant and 
     seasonal Head Start programs, by the State director of Head 
     Start Collaboration, by the Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker 
     Collaboration project Director (Such regulations shall 
     provide the policies, protections, and rights equivalent to 
     those provided a parent, student, or educational agency or 
     institution under section 444 of the General Education 
     Provisions Act.); and
       ``(6) ensure that nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed to authorize the development of a nationwide 
     database of personally identifiable information on 
     individuals involved in studies or other collections of data 
     under this subsection.
       ``(m) For purposes of this section, the term `eligible 
     entities' means an institution of higher education or other 
     entity with expertise in delivering training in early 
     childhood development, family support, and other assistance 
     designed to improve the delivery of Head Start services.
       ``(n) For the purposes of delivering a State-based training 
     and technical assistance system, as described in section 
     640(a)(C)(ii), that will meet the needs of local grantees and 
     provide high quality, sustained, and intensive training and 
     technical assistance to Head Start programs in order to help 
     them meet or exceed the program performance standards 
     described in section 641A(a)(1), the Secretary shall--
       ``(1) enter into contracts in each State with 1 or more 
     entities who have a demonstrated expertise in supporting the 
     delivery of high quality early education programs, except 
     that bi-State contracts may be entered in to if the 
     demographics of proximal States make such a system more 
     appropriate;
       ``(2) ensure that the entities described in subparagraph 
     (1) determine the types of services to be provided through 
     consultation with--
       ``(A) local Head Start agencies;
       ``(B) the State Head Start collaboration office; and
       ``(C) the State Head Start Association;
       ``(3) provide a report, to the Committee on Education and 
     Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee on 
     Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate. no 
     later than 90 days after the end of the fiscal year, 
     summarizing the funding for such contracts and the activities 
     carried out thereunder; and
       ``(4) periodically evaluate the usefulness of the delivery 
     of services in each State and their effectiveness in 
     promoting program quality.
       ``(o) To support enhanced early language and preliteracy 
     development of children in Head Start programs, and to 
     provide the children with high-quality oral language skills, 
     and environments that are rich in literature, in which to 
     acquire language and preliteracy skills, each Head Start 
     agency shall ensure that--
       ``(1) all of the agency's Head Start teachers receive 
     ongoing training in language and emergent literacy (referred 
     to in this subsection as `literacy training'), and including 
     appropriate curricula and assessment to improve instruction 
     and learning;
       ``(2) such literacy training shall include training in 
     methods to promote vocabulary development and phonological 
     awareness (including phonemic awareness) in a 
     developmentally, culturally, and linguistically appropriate 
     manner and support children's development in their home 
     language;
       ``(3) the literacy training shall include training in how 
     to work with parents to enhance positive language and early 
     literacy development at home;
       ``(4) the literacy training shall include specific methods 
     to best address the needs of children who are limited English 
     proficient; and
       ``(5) the literacy training shall include training on how 
     to best address the language and literacy needs of children 
     with disabilities, including training on how to work with 
     specialists in language development.

[[Page H4351]]

       ``(p) The Secretary is encouraged to contract, on a 
     competitive basis, with an institution of higher education 
     (as defined in section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 
     1965) to develop an on-line graduate-level professional 
     development program with the goal of improving the leadership 
     of those working in Head Start programs and improving teacher 
     quality and the capacity of effective Head Start teachers.
       ``(q) Indoor Air Quality.--The Secretary shall consult with 
     experts on issues of air quality related to children's health 
     and inform Head Start agencies of existing programs or 
     combination of programs that provide methods for improving 
     indoor air quality.
       ``(r) Demonstration for Career Ladder Partnerships With 
     Tribal Colleges and Hispanic-Serving Institutions.--
       ``(1) Tribal college career ladder demonstration program.--
     The Secretary is authorized to award demonstration grants, 
     for periods of not less than 5 years, to tribal colleges and 
     universities to--
       ``(A) implement education programs that include education 
     concerning tribal culture and language and increase the 
     number of associate, baccalaureate, and graduate degrees in 
     early childhood and related fields that are earned by Indian 
     Head Start agency staff members, parents of children served 
     by such an agency, and members of the tribal community 
     involved;
       ``(B) develop and implement the programs under subparagraph 
     (A) in technology-mediated formats, including providing the 
     programs through such means as distance learning and use of 
     advanced technology, as appropriate; and
       ``(C) provide technology literacy programs for Indian Head 
     Start agency staff members and children and families of 
     children served by such an agency.
       ``(2) Hispanic-serving institutions career ladder 
     demonstration program.--The Secretary is authorized to award 
     demonstration grants, for periods of not less than 5 years, 
     to Hispanic-serving institutions to--
       ``(A) provide assistance for stipends and costs related to 
     tuition, fees, and books for enrolling Head Start agency 
     staff members and parents of children served by such an 
     agency in courses required to complete the degree and 
     certification requirements to become bilingual teachers in 
     early childhood education and related fields;
       ``(B) develop career ladder program curricula to increase 
     the number of associate's, bachelor's, and graduate degrees 
     earned by Head Start agency staff who have the linguistic 
     skills and expertise to teach in programs serving a large 
     number of limited English proficient children and parents of 
     children served by such an agency; and
       ``(C) other activities to upgrade the skills and 
     qualifications of noncertified educational personnel to meet 
     the professional standards in section 648A(a)(1), including 
     certification and licensure as bilingual education teachers 
     and other educational personnel who serve limited English 
     proficient children.
       ``(3) Requirement.--Individuals who receive assistance 
     under paragraphs (1) and (2) shall subsequently teach in a 
     Head Start center for a period of time equivalent to the 
     period for which they received assistance or repay the amount 
     of funds.''.

     SEC. 18. STAFF QUALIFICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT.

       Section 648A of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9843a) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``(a)'' and all that follows through 
     paragraph (2), and inserting the following:
       ``(a) Classroom Teachers.--
       ``(1) Professional requirements.--The Secretary shall 
     ensure that each Head Start classroom in a center-based 
     program is assigned 1 teacher who has demonstrated competency 
     to perform functions that include--
       ``(A) planning and implementing learning experiences that 
     advance the intellectual and physical development of 
     children, including improving the readiness of children for 
     school by developing their literacy, phonemic, and print 
     awareness, their understanding and use of language, their 
     understanding and use of increasingly complex and varied 
     vocabulary, their appreciation of books, their understanding 
     of early math and early science, their problem solving 
     abilities, and their approaches to learning;
       ``(B) establishing and maintaining a safe, healthy learning 
     environment;
       ``(C) supporting the social and emotional development of 
     children; and
       ``(D) encouraging the involvement of the families of the 
     children in a Head Start program and supporting the 
     development of relationships between children and their 
     families.
       ``(2) Degree requirements.--
       ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure that not 
     later than September 30, 2013, at least 50 percent of all 
     Head Start teachers nationwide in center-based programs 
     have--
       ``(i) a baccalaureate, or advanced degree in early 
     childhood education;
       ``(ii) a baccalaureate or advanced degree in a field 
     related to early childhood education, with experience in 
     teaching preschool children; or
       ``(iii) except that teachers providing services in migrant 
     and seasonal Head Start classrooms that serve children under 
     age 3 shall be required to meet the teacher requirements 
     described in section 645A(h).
       ``(B) Progress report.--
       ``(i) On an annual basis, each Head Start agency shall 
     provide to the Secretary a report indicating the number and 
     percentage of classroom instructors with child development/ 
     early childhood education associate credentials and 
     associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degrees, and number of 
     classroom instructors who successfully transferred associate 
     credit and completed a baccalaureate degree disaggregated by 
     race, ethnicity, and proficiency in a language other than 
     English, with a description of those languages.
       ``(ii) Not later than September 30, 2008 the Secretary 
     shall compile and transmit reports received under (i) to the 
     Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
       ``(C) Progress.--Each Head Start agency shall provide to 
     the Secretary a report indicating the number and percentage 
     of teachers and teacher's aides with child development 
     associate credentials and associate, baccalaureate, or 
     advanced degrees. The Secretary shall compile all program 
     reports and make them available to the Committee on Education 
     and Labor of the House of Representatives and the Committee 
     on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.
       ``(D) Requirement for new head start teachers.--In 
     accordance with rules issued by the Secretary and made 
     effective 2 years after the effective date of this 
     subparagraph, all Head Start agencies shall require that all 
     Head Start teachers hired after such rules take effect to 
     provide Head Start services in center-based programs--
       ``(i) have an associate, baccalaureate, or advanced degree 
     in early childhood education or a related field; or
       ``(ii) be currently enrolled in a program of study leading 
     to an associate degree in early childhood education or a 
     related field, and agree to complete degree requirements not 
     later than 3 years after the date of hire.
       ``(E) Service requirements.--The Secretary shall establish 
     requirements to ensure that individuals who receive financial 
     assistance under this subchapter in order to comply with the 
     requirements under section 648A(a)(2) shall subsequently 
     teach in a Head Start center for a period of time equivalent 
     to the period for which they received assistance or repay the 
     amount of the funds.
       ``(F) Limitation.--The Secretary shall require that any 
     Federal funds provided directly or indirectly to comply with 
     subparagraph (A) shall be used toward degrees awarded by an 
     institution of higher education, as defined by sections 101 
     or 102 of the Higher Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1001, 1002).'', 
     and
       (B) in paragraph (3)--
       (i) in subparagraph (B) by striking ``or'' at the end,
       (ii) in subparagraph (C) by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; or'', and
       (iii) by adding at the end, the following:
       ``(D) a baccalaureate and has been admitted into the Teach 
     For America program, passed a rigorous early childhood 
     content exam, such as the Praxis II, participated in a Teach 
     For America summer training institute that includes teaching 
     preschool children, and is receiving ongoing professional 
     development and support from Teach For America's professional 
     staff.'', and
       (2) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:
       ``(c) Family Service Workers.--To improve the quality and 
     effectiveness of staff providing in-home and other services 
     (including needs assessment, development of service plans, 
     family advocacy, and coordination of service delivery) to 
     families of children participating in Head Start programs, 
     the Secretary, in coordination with concerned public and 
     private agencies and organizations examining the issues of 
     standards and training for family service workers, shall--
       ``(1) review and, as necessary, revise or develop new 
     qualification standards for Head Start staff providing such 
     services;
       ``(2) review, and as necessary, revise or develop maximum 
     caseload requirements, as suggested by best practices;
       ``(3) promote the development of model curricula (on 
     subjects including parenting training and family literacy) 
     designed to ensure the attainment of appropriate competencies 
     by individuals working or planning to work in the field of 
     early childhood and family services; and
       ``(4) promote the establishment of a credential that 
     indicates attainment of the competencies and that is accepted 
     nationwide.'', and
       (3) is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) Professional Development Plans.--Each Head Start 
     agency and program shall create, in consultation with an 
     employee, a professional development plan for all full-time 
     Head Start employees who provide direct services to children 
     and shall ensure that such plans are regularly evaluated for 
     their impact on teacher and staff effectiveness.''.

     SEC. 19. RESEARCH, DEMONSTRATIONS, AND EVALUATION.

       Section 649 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9844) is 
     amended--
       (1) by amending subsection (a)(1)(B) to read as follows:
       ``(B) use the Head Start programs to develop, test, and 
     disseminate new ideas and based on existing scientifically 
     based research, for addressing the needs of low-income 
     preschool children (including children with disabilities, 
     homeless children, children who have been abused or 
     neglected, and children in foster care) and their families 
     and communities (including demonstrations of innovative non-
     center-based program models such as home-based and mobile 
     programs), and otherwise to further the purposes of this 
     subchapter.'',
       (2) in subsection (d)--
       (A) in paragraph (7) by adding ``and'' at the end,
       (B) in paragraph (8) by striking the semicolon at the end 
     and inserting a period,
       (C) by striking paragraphs (9) and (10), and
       (D) by striking the last sentence,
       (3) in subsection (g)--
       (A) in paragraph(1)(A)--
       (i) by striking clause (i), and
       (ii) by redesignating clauses (ii) and (iii) as clauses (i) 
     and (ii), respectively, and
       (B) by amending paragraph (7)(C) to read as follows:

[[Page H4352]]

       ``(C) Transmittal of report to congress.--Not later than 
     September 30, 2009, the Secretary shall transmit the final 
     report to the Committee on Education and Labor of the House 
     of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions of the Senate.'', and
       (4) by amending subsection (h) to read as follows:
       ``(h) Limited English Proficient Children.--
       ``(1) Study.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
     enactment of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, the 
     Secretary shall conduct a study on the status of limited 
     English proficient children and their families in 
     participating Head Start programs and Early Head Start 
     programs.
       ``(2) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare and submit to 
     Congress, not later than September 2008, a report containing 
     the results of such study, including information on--
       ``(A)(i) the demographics of limited English proficient 
     children less than 5 years of age and the geographical 
     distribution of such children; and
       ``(ii) the number of such children receiving Head Start 
     services and the number of such children receiving Early Head 
     Start services, and the geographical distribution of such 
     children receiving such services;
       ``(B) the nature of the Head Start services and of the 
     Early Head Start services provided to limited English 
     proficient children and their families, including the types, 
     content, duration, intensity, and costs of family services, 
     language assistance, and educational services;
       ``(C) procedures in Head Start programs for assessing 
     language needs and for making the transition of limited 
     English proficient children to kindergarten, including the 
     extent to which Head Start programs meet the requirements of 
     section 642A for limited English proficient children;
       ``(D) the qualifications and training provided to Head 
     Start teachers and Early Head Start teachers who serve 
     limited English proficient children and their families;
       ``(E) the home languages of Head Start and Early Head Start 
     teachers;
       ``(F) the rate of progress made by limited English 
     proficient children and their families in Head Start programs 
     and in Early Head Start programs, including--
       ``(i) the rate of progress made by limited English 
     proficient children toward meeting the additional educational 
     standards described in section 641A(a)(1)(B)(ii) while 
     enrolled in Head Start programs;
       ``(ii) the correlation between such progress and the type 
     and quality of instruction and educational programs provided 
     to limited English proficient children; and
       ``(iii) the correlation between such progress and the 
     health and family services provided by Head Start programs to 
     limited English proficient children and their families; and
       ``(G) the extent to which Head Start programs make use of 
     funds under section 640(a)(3) to improve the quality of Head 
     Start services provided to limited English proficient 
     children and their families.
       ``(i) Children, Families, and Programs Affected by 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.--
       ``(1) Purpose.--The purpose of this subsection is to 
     evaluate the status of Head Start and Early Head Start 
     programs affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as 
     the challenges those programs have faced in reestablishing 
     themselves and reenrolling eligible children and families, 
     with the ultimate goal of providing all Head Start and Early 
     Head Start programs with recommendations for developing and 
     implementing disaster plans.
       ``(2) Definition.--The term `areas affected by Hurricanes 
     Katrina and Rita' means any parish or county for which it was 
     determined that assistance was warranted from the Federal 
     Government under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
     Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5121 et seq.) as a result 
     of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
       ``(3) Study.--The Secretary shall conduct a study on the 
     status of children and families participating in Head Start 
     and Early Head Start programs in areas affected by Hurricanes 
     Katrina and Rita.
       ``(4) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
     enactment of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007, the 
     Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress a report 
     containing the results of such study, including
       ``(A) information on the population served, including--
       ``(i) the number of children and families participating in 
     Head Start and Early Head Start programs in areas affected by 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita before and after Hurricanes 
     Katrina and Rita;
       ``(ii) the demographics of such children and families; and
       ``(iii) the geographical distribution of such children and 
     families;
       ``(B) information on staff and programs, including--
       ``(i) the number and geographic distribution of staff 
     serving Head Start and Early Head Start children and families 
     from areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita;
       ``(ii) the current status, including employment status and 
     geographic location, of Head Start and Early Head Start staff 
     serving in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita 
     prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and
       ``(iii) the response and recovery efforts of Head Start and 
     Early Head Start staff serving in areas affected by 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
       ``(C) information on facilities, including--
       ``(i) the number of Head Start and Early Head Start 
     facilities operating prior to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 
     areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita;
       ``(ii) the current status of each such facility; and
       ``(iii) information on any new Head Start or Early Head 
     Start facility that has opened in areas affected by 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita or that serves children and 
     families who lived in areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina 
     and Rita at the time of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita;
       ``(D) information on coordination with the Federal 
     Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in areas affected by 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, including--
       ``(i) areas of success that Head Start agencies and 
     programs had in working with FEMA;
       ``(ii) challenges that Head Start agencies and programs had 
     in working with FEMA; and
       ``(iii) the number of Head Start families that received 
     individualized assistance (as defined under the Robert T. 
     Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Act) and the types of 
     assistance received by such families.
       ``(E) challenges that were faced by Head Start and Early 
     Head Start programs and families in areas affected by 
     Hurricanes Katrina and Rita including--
       ``(i) the availability of Head Start services for families 
     displaced during the period of transition;
       ``(ii) identification of and outreach to families displaced 
     by the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and
       ``(iii) the extent to which non-Federal disaster assistance 
     was available to Head Start agencies and programs, and 
     coordination of such services with non-Federal disaster 
     assistance resources.
       ``(5) Disaster plan preparedness.--Not later than 1 year 
     after the date of the enactment of Improving Head Start Act 
     of 2007, the Secretary shall prepare and submit to Congress, 
     Head Start disaster plan recommendations based upon the 
     report initiated in paragraph (4), including recommendations 
     for prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, that 
     can be used to advise Head Start and Early Head Start 
     programs in the development and implementation of disaster 
     plans.''.

     SEC. 20. REPORTS.

       Section 650 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9846) is 
     amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) by striking ``Committee on Education and the Workforce 
     of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Labor 
     and Human Resources of the Senate'' each place it appears and 
     inserting ``Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions of the Senate'',
       (B) by striking ``and non-English language background 
     children'' and inserting ``children, homeless children, 
     children in foster care, and limited English proficient 
     children'', and
       (C) in paragraph (8) by inserting ``homelessness, whether 
     the child is in foster care or was referred by a child 
     welfare agency,'' after `` background,'', and
       (2) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(c) Set-Aside Activities.--Not later than 60 days after 
     the end of each fiscal year, the Secretary shall submit to 
     the Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, a report detailing the 
     different amounts of expenditures under section 640(a)(2) and 
     the activities carried out thereunder.
       ``(d) Fiscal Protocol.--The Secretary shall conduct an 
     annual review to assess whether the design and implementation 
     of the triennial reviews described in section 641A(c) include 
     compliance procedures that provide reasonable assurance that 
     Head Start agencies are complying with applicable fiscal laws 
     and regulations. The Secretary shall report the findings and 
     conclusions of the annual review to the House Committee on 
     Education and Labor, and the Senate Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor and Pensions within 30 days of completing 
     the review.
       ``(e) Use of Individualized Education Plans.--The Secretary 
     shall track the use of Head Start Individualized Education 
     Plans by Head Start agencies in order to evaluate the reasons 
     why Head Start agencies are opting not to use Individualized 
     Education Plans for children with disabilities (as specified 
     in the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 
     1414(d)), whether Head Start Individualized Education Plans 
     are used to provide services prior to the development of an 
     Individualized Education Plan, as required under the 
     Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, and the length 
     of time programs use Head Start Individualized Education 
     Plans before an Individualized Education Plan as required 
     under Individuals With Disabilities Education Act is 
     developed. The Secretary shall provide a report to the 
     Committee on Education and Labor of the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, not later than 1 year 
     after the date of the enactment of the Improving Head Start 
     Act of 2007.
       ``(f) Evaluation and Recommendations Regarding Obesity 
     Prevention.--The Secretary shall evaluate and publish 
     regulations on the issue of and concerns related to 
     preventing and reducing obesity in children who participate 
     in Head Start programs and shall consult, at a minimum, with 
     experts in child and maternal health, child development, 
     child and family nutrition and physical education, to 
     determine the effective methods by which Head Start agencies 
     can help address childhood obesity. The regulations should 
     include guidance on how Head Start agencies can incorporate, 
     at a minimum, more physical activity and nutrition education 
     into such programs related to preventing and reducing 
     obesity. Not later than 1 year after the effective date of 
     this subsection, the Secretary shall submit to the House 
     Committee on Education and Labor and the Senate Committee on

[[Page H4353]]

     Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, a report containing 
     such recommendations and the results of such evaluation.''.

     SEC. 21. WAGES AND COMPENSATION.

       Section 653 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9848) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 653. WAGES AND COMPENSATION.

       ``(a) Comparability of Wages.--The Secretary shall take 
     such action as may be necessary to assure that persons 
     employed in carrying out programs financed under this 
     subchapter shall not receive compensation at a rate which is 
     (1) in excess of the average rate of compensation paid in the 
     area where the program is carried out to a substantial number 
     of the persons providing substantially comparable services, 
     or in excess of the average rate of compensation paid to a 
     substantial number of the persons providing substantially 
     comparable services in the area of the person's immediately 
     preceding employment, whichever is higher; or (2) less than 
     the minimum wage rate prescribed in section 6(a)(1) of the 
     Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The Secretary shall 
     encourage Head Start agencies to provide compensation 
     according to salary scales that are based on training and 
     experience.
       ``(b) Federal Rate Limitation.--Notwithstanding any other 
     provision of law, no Federal funds shall be used to pay all 
     or any part of the compensation of an individual employed by 
     a Head Start agency in carrying out programs under this 
     subchapter, either as direct or indirect costs of any 
     proration thereof, at a rate in excess of the rate then 
     payable for level II of the Executive Schedule under section 
     5313 of title 5, United States Code.''.

     SEC. 22. LIMITATION ON CERTAIN USES OF FUNDS.

       The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.) is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 656A. LIMITATION ON CERTAIN USES OF FUNDS.

       ``No funds made available to carry out this subchapter may 
     be used--
       ``(1) for publicity or propaganda purposes not heretofore 
     authorized by the Congress; or
       ``(2) unless authorized by law in effect on the effective 
     date of this section, to produce any pre-packaged news story 
     intended for broadcast or distribution unless such story 
     includes a clear notification contained within the text or 
     audio of such story stating that the prepackaged news story 
     was prepared or funded by the Department of Health and Human 
     Services.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. No amendment to the committee amendment is in order 
except the amendments printed in House Report 110-116. Each amendment 
may be offered only in the order printed in the report, by a Member 
designated in the report, shall be considered read, shall be debatable 
for the time specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by 
the proponent and an opponent of the amendment, shall not be subject to 
amendment and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question.


     Amendment No. 1 Offered by Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas

  The CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 printed 
in House Report 110-116.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I offer an 
amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 1 offered by Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson of 
     Texas:
       Page 152, line 23, strike the close quotation and the 
     period at the end.
       Page 152, after line 23, insert the following (and make 
     such technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
       ``(s) Historically Black Colleges and Universities Head 
     Start Partnerships.--In order to promote quality services and 
     instruction to children with diverse backgrounds, the 
     Secretary shall work in collaboration with Historically Black 
     Colleges and Universities to--
       ``(1) implement education programs that include education 
     to increase the number of associate, baccalaureate, and 
     advanced degrees in early childhood education and related 
     fields that are earned by Head Start agency staff members, 
     and parents of children served by such an agency; and
       ``(2) carry out other activities to upgrade the skills and 
     qualifications of noncertified educational personnel to meet 
     the professional standards in section 648A(a).
     Individuals who receive assistance under this paragraph shall 
     subsequently teach in a center-based Head Start program for a 
     period of time equivalent to the period for which they 
     received assistance or shall repay such assistance.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Texas.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I rise to offer an 
amendment that will increase the number of highly qualified African 
American Head Start teachers. Let me hasten to thank the chairman of 
the committee and the ranking member.
  This program has been successful. I am fortunate enough to have what 
has been labeled as the number one Head Start program in the country in 
my district, and what I am attempting to do in this amendment is to 
create partnerships between our Nation's historically black colleges 
and universities and Head Start.
  It does not eliminate anyone else's participation, but we know that 
by 2013 every Head Start teacher has to have a degree, and it could be 
parents because one of the secrets to success in these programs is to 
have lots of involvement of the parents and volunteers in the 
community.
  The partnerships will provide an opportunity for Head Start staff and 
parents of Head Start students to obtain degrees in early childhood 
education.
  Now, why must it be in a historically black college? Mr. Chairman, 
that is important because 30 percent of the total number of children in 
Head Start are African American.
  Only 6 percent of our Nation's 3 million teachers are African 
American and this is far too few, but also the historically black 
colleges and universities educate more African American teachers than 
all the other universities put together.
  So we would like to make this collaboration so that it can reflect 
the diversity and the need and encouragement of both the parents and 
the teachers to work together. They can serve as role models, the 
teachers who know and understand the students that come from their own 
communities, and this will not only increase the number of qualified 
African American Head Start teachers, but it will increase the number 
of role models for millions of children who are at risk of educational 
failure.
  So, today, only 6 percent of our Nation's 3 million teachers are 
African American. It is far too small, but this would offer a unique 
resource and support for those that are seeking a degree which is going 
to be necessary to maintain these jobs, and it also will offer I think 
a very positive role model situation in our Head Start program where 
appropriate.
  I would like to move adoption of my amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentlewoman's 
amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the gentleman from California is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I believe that the amendment will improve 
the underlying bill. Let me just give one example that can come from 
her amendment.
  Delaware State University is an example of a Head Start HBCU 
partnership that nurtures a continual goal of providing high quality 
educational experiences to Head Start participants by enhancing the 
competence of teachers and teachers' aids; improving parental 
confidence and life management skills to ensure that the work of Head 
Start is continued in the home; and improving the administrative, 
managerial and leadership skills of centers directly so the Head Start 
resources, including personnel, are used as efficiently as possible.

                              {time}  1545

  We think that her amendment will further this help, and we think it 
improves the bill. We would be happy to support the amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to 
the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield).
  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. I come to the floor this afternoon to thank, first, 
the chairman of the committee, Mr. George Miller of California, for his 
tireless work in this area, and also the gentlelady from Texas.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of H.R. 1429. There is no question, 
Mr. Chairman, that America needs more minority teachers in Head Start 
classrooms. I represent the First Congressional District of North 
Carolina, which is the 15th poorest district in the Nation. I can tell 
you that Head Start is making a difference in my congressional 
district.

[[Page H4354]]

  I encourage the continuation of the program. I urge the adoption of 
this resolution.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds 
to the gentleman from California (Mr. George Miller).
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I rise in strong support of this 
amendment and urge its adoption. I thank the gentlewoman for offering 
it.
  Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the 
Eddie Bernice Johnson Amendment to H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start 
Act of 2007. This amendment will encourage partnerships between Head 
Start and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The Johnson 
Amendment will encourage African American students to focus on early 
childhood education and participate in Head Start. My home is 
Cleveland, Ohio, and it is one of the poorest cities in the nation, 
with half of the children living below the poverty line. Head Start 
provides a vital service to my community, it allows the youngest and 
most helpless children to have a chance at the developing basic skills 
so they are not behind when they start attending school. I am so 
pleased that my colleague from Texas, Eddie Bernice Johnson has offered 
this amendment. It will encourage more African American teachers to 
return to some of the most impoverished communities across this 
country. They will not only serve as teachers but also as role models 
land mentors to inspire young children to succeed as they have. I would 
like to once again Congresswoman Johnson for offering this amendment 
and encourage all of my colleagues to support it.
  Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the 
balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Eddie Bernice Johnson).
  The amendment was agreed to.


            Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Price of Georgia

  The CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2 printed 
in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 2 offered by Mr. Price of Georgia:
       At the end, add the following (and make such technical and 
     conforming changes as may be appropriate):

                 TITLE II--STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM

     SEC. 201. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

       The Head Start Act is amended by inserting after section 
     643 the following new section:

     ``SEC. 643A. STATE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.

       ``(a) Grants.--
       ``(1) In general.--
       ``(A) Eligible states.--In the case of each eligible State 
     that submits to the Secretary an application that fulfills 
     the requirements of this section, the Secretary, from amounts 
     appropriated under section 639(a), shall make a grant to the 
     State to carry out a State demonstration program under this 
     section, except that the Secretary shall not make such grants 
     to more than 8 eligible States.
       ``(B) Determination.--The Secretary shall make awards to 
     those States that demonstrate--
       ``(i) that the State standards generally meet or exceed the 
     standards that ensure the quality and effectiveness of 
     programs operated by Head Start agencies;
       ``(ii) the capacity to deliver high quality early childhood 
     education services to prepare children, including low-income 
     children, for school; and
       ``(iii) success in improving the school readiness of 
     children.
       ``(2) State eligibility.--A State shall be eligible to 
     participate in the program under this section if it meets 
     each of the following criteria:
       ``(A) The State has an existing State supported system 
     providing public prekindergarten to children prior to entry 
     into kindergarten.
       ``(B) The State has implemented standards as of fiscal year 
     2007 for school readiness that include standards for 
     language, prereading and premathematics development for 
     prekindergarten that are aligned with State kindergarten 
     through twelfth grade academic content standards and which 
     shall apply to all programs receiving funds under this part 
     or provides an assurance that such standards will be aligned 
     by the end of the second fiscal year of participation.
       ``(C) State and locally appropriated funds for 
     prekindergarten services and Head Start services in the base 
     year under this section shall not be less than 50 percent of 
     the Federal funds that the grantees in the State received 
     under this Act in the base year for services to Head Start 
     eligible children, excluding amounts for services provided 
     under section 645A.
       ``(D) The State has established a means for inter-agency 
     coordination and collaboration in the development of the plan 
     under subsection (h).
       ``(b) Lead Agency.--A program under this section shall be 
     administered by a State governmental entity designated by the 
     Chief Executive Officer of the State as the lead State 
     agency.
       ``(c) State Operation of Program.--The State may conduct 
     all or any part of the program under this section (including 
     the activities specified in subsection (g)) directly or by 
     grant, contract, or cooperative agreement.
       ``(d) Transition.--
       ``(1) In general.--For 60 months after the effective date 
     of this section, the State shall continue to provide funds to 
     each local grantee who--
       ``(A) was receiving funds under this subchapter, as in 
     effect prior to the date of enactment of this section, and
       ``(B) is serving the geographic area covered by the plan in 
     section 643A(h).''
       Such continuing grants shall be made in accordance with the 
     terms of the grant made to the local grantee immediately 
     prior to such date of enactment. This paragraph shall not 
     apply to a grant applicant who has experienced substantial 
     uncorrected deficiencies on Department of Health and Human 
     Services monitoring reports during any year of the most 
     recent 5-year period, or to a grantee that, as determined by 
     the State, does not comply with the State plan described in 
     subsection 643A(h) submitted to the Secretary.
       ``(e) Federal Financial Assistance.--
       ``(1) Allocation of federal allotments to state programs.--
     From each total amount described in paragraph (2) allotted to 
     a State for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall pay to a State 
     with a program approved under this section for such fiscal 
     year an amount equal to--
       ``(A) if the State program is statewide, 100 percent of 
     such total amount; and
       ``(B) if the State program is limited to a geographic area 
     or areas, the sum of--
       ``(i) an amount equal to the amount received by grantees in 
     such geographic area or areas for the Federal fiscal year 
     preceding the first fiscal year of the State program under 
     this section; plus
       ``(ii) an amount bearing the same ratio to the excess (if 
     any) above the total amount for such preceding fiscal year as 
     the number of children less than 5 years of age from families 
     whose income is below the poverty line in the geographic area 
     or areas included in the program bears to the total number of 
     such children in the State (as determined using the same data 
     used pursuant to section 640(a)(4)(B)).
       ``(2) Funds allocated.--For purposes of paragraph (1), 
     amounts described in this paragraph are:
       ``(A) Basic state allotments.--Amounts allotted to States 
     pursuant to section 640(a)(4), including amounts reserved 
     pursuant to section 640(a)(5), excluding amounts for services 
     provided under section 645A.
       ``(B) State allotments of expansion funds.--Amounts 
     allotted to States pursuant to section 640(a)(3)(D)(i)(I) for 
     program expansion.
       ``(C) Quality improvement funds.--Quality improvement funds 
     (if any) reserved pursuant to section 640(a)(3).
       ``(D) Training and technical assistance funds.--An amount 
     bearing the same ratio to the amount set aside for training 
     and technical assistance activities pursuant to section 
     640(a)(2)(C)(i) and (ii) as the State's share of amounts 
     allotted under section 640(a)(4)(B) bears to the total amount 
     so allotted (and for purposes of subparagraph (A), such 
     amount shall be considered an amount allotted to the State 
     for the fiscal year).
       ``(3) Non-federal match.--(A) In determining the amount of 
     Federal and non-Federal contributions for purposes of this 
     section, the amounts required to be expended by the State 
     under subsection (h)(14)(B) (relating to maintenance of 
     effort) shall be excluded.
       ``(B) Financial assistance made available to a State under 
     this subchapter shall be in an amount equal to 95 percent of 
     the total amount expended for such programs. The Secretary 
     shall require non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to 
     5 percent of the total amount expended under this subchapter 
     for such programs.
       ``(C) Non-Federal contributions may be made in cash or in 
     kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment, or 
     services.
       ``(4) Combined operations with other early childhood 
     education programs.--A State may combine funds for a program 
     under this section with funds for other early childhood 
     programs serving children in the same age group, as long as 
     all applicable requirements of this subchapter are met with 
     respect to either--
       ``(A) the entire combined program; or
       ``(B) each child served in such combined program for whom 
     the services provided are funded from appropriations under 
     this subchapter or non-Federal matching contributions under 
     this subchapter.
       ``(5) Use of funds without regard to allotment purposes.--A 
     State may use funds received pursuant to this section for any 
     program purpose set forth in section 636, without regard to 
     the purposes for such funds specified in section 640.
       ``(6) Other funds.--Funds received under this section shall 
     not supplant any non-Federal, State or local funds that would 
     otherwise be used for activities authorized under

[[Page H4355]]

     this section or similar activities carried out in the State.
       ``(f) Coordination and Choice.--
       ``(1) In general.--A State demonstration Program shall be 
     coordinated with the education programs of local educational 
     agencies in the State to ensure that the program is 
     effectively designed to develop in children in the program 
     the knowledge and behaviors necessary to transition 
     successfully to kindergarten and to succeed in school.
       ``(2) Programs concerned.--
       ``(A) Required programs.--Such coordination shall occur 
     regarding the implementation of the following:
       ``(i) The Early Reading First and Even Start programs under 
     title I, part B, subparts 2 and 3 of the Elementary and 
     Secondary Education Act of 1965, and other preschool programs 
     carried out under title I of that Act.
       ``(ii) State prekindergarten programs.
       ``(iii) The Ready-to-Learn Television Program under subpart 
     3 of part D of title II of the Elementary and Secondary 
     Education Act.
       ``(B) Optional programs.--Such coordination may occur 
     regarding the implementation of the following:
       ``(i) Programs under the Child Care and Development Block 
     Grant Act.
       ``(ii) Other publicly funded early childhood education 
     programs.
       ``(3) Parental choice.--The program shall allow parents to 
     choose the preschool program for their child.
       ``(g) Required Services.--With funds under this section, 
     the State shall provide services described in section 641A at 
     least as extensive as were provided, and to at least as many 
     low-income children and families in each fiscal year as were 
     provided such services, with such funds in the base year in 
     the State (or, if applicable, in the geographic area included 
     in the State program). A program under this section shall 
     include the following comprehensive activities designed to 
     promote school readiness and success in school:
       ``(1) Child development and education.--Activities with 
     enrolled children that promote--
       ``(A) cognitive development, language development, 
     prereading, and premathematics knowledge and skills;
       ``(B) physical development, health, and nutrition 
     (including through coordination with, and referral of 
     children and families to local health service entities; and
       ``(C) social development important for environments 
     constructive for child development, early learning, and 
     school success.
       ``(2) Parent education and involvement.--Activities with 
     the parents of enrolled children directed at enhancing and 
     encouraging--
       ``(A) involvement in, and ability to support, their 
     children's educational development;
       ``(B) parenting skills and understanding of child 
     development; and
       ``(C) ability to participate effectively in decisions 
     relating to the education of their children.
       ``(3) Social and family support services.--Activities 
     directed at securing appropriate social and family support 
     services for enrolled children and their families, primarily 
     through referral and coordination with local, State, and 
     Federal entities that provide such services.
       ``(4) Head start services.--For purposes of paragraph (1) 
     Head Start services furnished in a State program under this 
     section shall include all Head Start services, other than--
       ``(A) Indian Head Start programs and migrant and seasonal 
     Head Start programs supported with funds reserved under 
     section 640(a)(2)(A); and
       ``(B) Early Head Start services provided under section 
     645A.
       ``(h) State Plan.--A State proposing to administer a 
     program under this section shall submit a State plan to the 
     Secretary. The State plan shall include the following:
       ``(1) Lead state agency.--The plan shall identify the 
     entity designated by the Chief Executive Officer of the State 
     as the lead State agency.
       ``(2) Geographic area.--The plan shall specify whether the 
     program is statewide, and, if it is not, identify the 
     geographic area or areas covered by the plan. A geographic 
     area may be a city, county, standard metropolitan statistical 
     area, or such other geographic area in the State.
       ``(3) Program period.--A State program under this section 
     shall be in effect for 5 Federal fiscal years.
       ``(4) Program description.--The plan shall describe the 
     services under subsection (f) to be provided in the program 
     and arrangements the State proposes to use to provide the 
     services specified in subsection (g), including how the State 
     will leverage existing delivery systems for such services.
       ``(5) Needs assessment.--The plan shall describe the 
     results of a State needs assessment and shall provide an 
     assurance that the State will use the results to identify the 
     needs for early childhood education services within a State 
     or geographic area to be served and is targeting services to 
     those areas of greatest need and to expand and improve 
     services to disadvantaged children in the State.
       ``(6) Assurance of compliance.--The plan shall provide an 
     assurance that the State program will comply with the 
     requirements of this section, including each of the 
     following:
       ``(A) Priority for low-income children.--Requirements 
     established pursuant to section 645(a) concerning the 
     eligibility and priority of individuals for participation in 
     Head Start programs.
       ``(B) Continuation for existing providers.--An applicant 
     who received funds under this subchapter in prior fiscal 
     years and has not corrected any substantial deficiencies 
     identified in the past 5 years shall not be eligible to 
     receive any grants, contract, or cooperative agreements under 
     this section.
       ``(C) Participation of children with disabilities.--
     Requirements pursuant to section 640(d) concerning Head Start 
     enrollment opportunities and services for children with 
     disabilities.
       ``(D) Provisions concerning fees and copayments.--The 
     provisions of section 645(b) concerning the charging of fees 
     and the circumstances under which copayments are permissible.
       ``(E) Federal share; state and local matching.--The 
     provisions of section 640(b) limiting Federal financial 
     assistance for Head Start programs, and providing for non-
     Federal contributions.
       ``(F) Administrative costs.--The provisions of section 
     644(b) limiting the share of program funds that may be used 
     for developing and administering a program.
       ``(G) Federal property interest.--Applicable provisions of 
     this subchapter regarding the Federal Government interest in 
     property (including real property) purchased, leased, or 
     renovated with Federal funds.
       ``(7) Identification of barriers.--The plan shall identify 
     barriers in the State to the effective use of Federal, State, 
     and local public funds, and private funds, for early 
     education and care that are available to the State on the 
     date on which the application is submitted.
       ``(8) State guidelines for school readiness.--The plan 
     shall include--
       ``(A) a State definition of school readiness;
       ``(B) a description of the State's general goals for school 
     readiness, including how the State intends to--
       ``(i) promote and maintain ongoing communication and 
     collaboration between providers of early care and education 
     and local educational agencies in the State;
       ``(ii) align early childhood and kindergarten curricula to 
     ensure program continuity; and
       ``(iii) ensure that children successfully transition to 
     kindergarten.
       ``(9) Teacher qualifications.--The plan shall assure that 
     the qualifications and credentials for early childhood 
     teachers meet or exceed the standards in section 
     648A(a)(2)(A), (B), and (C).
       ``(10) Professional development.--The plan shall provide a 
     description of the State plan for assuring the ongoing 
     professional development of early childhood educators and 
     administrators including how the State intends to--
       ``(A) improve the competencies of early childhood educators 
     in meeting the cognitive and other developmental needs of 
     young children through effective instructional strategies, 
     methods, and skills;
       ``(B) develop and implement initiatives to effectively 
     recruit and promote the retention of well-qualified early 
     childhood educators;
       ``(C) encourage institutions of higher education, providers 
     of community-based training, and other qualified providers to 
     develop high-quality programs to prepare students to be early 
     childhood education professionals; and
       ``(D) improve the quality of professional development 
     available to meet the needs of teachers that serve preschool 
     children.
       ``(11) Quality standards.--The State shall describe the 
     State's standards, applicable to all agencies, programs, and 
     projects that receive funds under this subchapter, including 
     a description of--
       ``(A) standards with respect to services required to be 
     provided, including health, parental involvement, 
     nutritional, social, transition activities described in 
     section 642(d) of this subchapter, and other services;
       ``(B)(i) education standards to promote the school 
     readiness of children participating in a State program under 
     title II of this subchapter; and
       ``(ii) additional education standards to ensure that the 
     children participating in the program, at a minimum develop 
     and demonstrate--
       ``(I) language skills;
       ``(II) prereading knowledge and skills, including interest 
     in and appreciation of books, reading and writing either 
     alone or with others;
       ``(III) premathematics knowledge and skills, including 
     aspects of classification, seriation, number, spatial 
     relations, and time;
       ``(IV) cognitive abilities related to academic achievement;
       ``(V) social development important for environments 
     constructive for child development, early learning, and 
     school success; and
       ``(VI) in the case of limited-English proficient children, 
     progress toward acquisition of the English language;
       ``(C) the State's minimum standards for early childhood 
     teacher credentials and qualifications;
       ``(D) the student-teacher ratio for each age-group served;
       ``(E) administrative and financial management standards;
       ``(F) standards relating to the condition and location of 
     facilities for such agencies, programs, and projects; and

[[Page H4356]]

       ``(G) such other standards as the State finds to be 
     appropriate.
       ``(12) State accountability system.--
       ``(A) In general.--The State plan shall--
       ``(i) ensure that individual providers are achieving 
     results in advancing the knowledge and behaviors identified 
     by the State as prerequisites for kindergarten success; and
       ``(ii) specify the measures the State will use to evaluate 
     the progress toward achieving such results and the 
     effectiveness of the State program under this section, and of 
     individual providers in such program.
       ``(B) Publication of results.--
       ``(i) In general.--Subject to clause (ii), the results 
     shall be made publicly available in the communities served by 
     the program.
       ``(ii) Confidentiality safeguards.--The system shall have 
     in effect privacy safeguards ensuring that information on 
     children included in data and results made public in 
     accordance with clause (i) shall be in aggregated form, and 
     shall not include information allowing identification of 
     individual children.
       ``(13) Transition plan.--The initial State plan shall make 
     provision for transition from the direct Federal program 
     under section 640 to the demonstration program.
       ``(14) Cooperation with research studies.--The plan shall 
     provide assurances that the State will cooperate with 
     research activities described in section 649.
       ``(15) Maintenance of effort.--The State plan shall--
       ``(A) contain a commitment to provide data, at such times 
     and in such format as the Secretary requires, concerning non-
     Federal expenditures and numbers of children and families 
     served in preschool and Head Start programs during the base 
     year and each fiscal year covered under the State plan, 
     sufficient to satisfy the Secretary that the State program 
     will meet its obligation with respect to the maintenance of 
     effort requirement under subparagraph (B); and
       ``(B) assure that the resources (which may be cash or in-
     kind) contributed by the State government to child care for 
     preschool-aged children and other preschool programs, 
     including Head Start, in the State (or, if applicable, in the 
     geographic area included in the State program) for each 
     fiscal year in which the program under this section is in 
     effect shall be in an amount at least equal to the total 
     amount of such State governmental resources contributed to 
     support such programs in the State (or geographic area) for 
     the base year.
       ``(16) Training and technical assistance.--The State plan 
     shall describe the training and technical assistance 
     activities that shall provide high quality, sustained, 
     intensive, and classroom-focused training and technical 
     assistance in order to have a positive and lasting impact on 
     classroom instruction.
       ``(i) Records, Reports and Audits.--The State agency 
     administering the State program, and each entity 
     participating as a Head Start service provider, shall 
     maintain such records, make such reports, and cooperate with 
     such audits as the Secretary may require for oversight of 
     program activities and expenditures.
       ``(j) Inapplicability of Provisions Concerning Priority in 
     Agency Designation.--The provisions of subsections (c) and 
     (d) of section 641 (concerning priority in designation of 
     Head Start agencies, successor agencies, and delegate 
     agencies) shall not apply to a State program under this 
     section.
       ``(k) Consultation.--A State proposing to administer a 
     program under this section shall submit, with the plan under 
     this section, assurances that the plan was developed through 
     timely and meaningful consultation with appropriate public 
     and private sector entities, including--
       ``(1) representatives of agencies responsible for 
     administering early education and care programs in the State, 
     including Head Start providers;
       ``(2) parents;
       ``(3) the State educational agency and local educational 
     agencies;
       ``(4) early childhood education professionals;
       ``(5) kindergarten teachers and teachers in grades 1 
     through 4;
       ``(6) child welfare agencies;
       ``(7) child care resource and referral agencies;
       ``(8) child care providers; and
       ``(9) a wide array of persons interested in and involved 
     with early care and early education issues in the State, such 
     as representatives of--
       ``(A) health care professionals;
       ``(B) the State agency with responsibility for the special 
     supplemental nutrition program for women, infants, and 
     children established by section 17 of the Child Nutrition Act 
     of 1966;
       ``(C) institutions of higher education;
       ``(D) community-based and faith-based organizations;
       ``(E) the business community;
       ``(F) State legislators and local officials;
       ``(G) museums and libraries;
       ``(H) other relevant entities in the State; and
       ``(I) other agencies that provide resources for young 
     children.
       ``(l) State Plan Submission.--An application shall be 
     submitted by a State pursuant to this section to the 
     Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Education, 
     and shall be deemed to be approved by the Secretary unless 
     the Secretary makes a written determination, prior to the 
     expiration of a reasonable time beginning on the date on 
     which the Secretary received the application, that the 
     application is not in compliance with this section.
       ``(m) Treatment of Funds.--If a State or local government 
     contributes its own funds to supplement activities carried 
     out under the applicable programs, the State or local 
     government has the option to separate out the Federal funds 
     or commingle them. If the funds are commingled, the 
     provisions of this subchapter shall apply to all of the 
     commingled funds in the same manner, and to the same extent, 
     as the provisions apply to the Federal funds.
       ``(n) Federal Oversight Authority; Corrective Action; 
     Withdrawal of Approval.--
       ``(1) Federal oversight.--The Secretary shall retain the 
     authority to oversee the operation of the State program under 
     this section, including through review of records and 
     reports, audits, and onsite inspection of records and 
     facilities and monitoring of program activities and 
     operations.
       ``(2) Correction of deficiencies.--If the Secretary 
     determines that a State program under this section 
     substantially fails to meet the requirements of this section, 
     the Secretary shall notify the State of the deficiencies 
     identified and require corrective action as follows:
       ``(A) Deficiencies causing immediate jeopardy.--The 
     Secretary shall require immediate corrective action to 
     eliminate a deficiency that the Secretary finds threatens the 
     health or safety of staff or program participants or poses a 
     threat to the integrity of Federal funds.
       ``(B) Other deficiencies.--The Secretary, taking into 
     consideration the nature and magnitude of a deficiency not 
     described in subparagraph (A), and the time reasonably 
     required for correction, may--
       ``(i) require the State to correct the deficiency within 90 
     days after notification under this paragraph; or
       ``(ii) require the State to implement a quality improvement 
     plan designed to correct the deficiency within one year from 
     identification of the deficiency.
       ``(3) Withdrawal of approval.--If the deficiencies 
     identified under paragraph (2) are not corrected by the 
     deadlines established by the Secretary, the Secretary shall 
     initiate proceedings to withdraw approval of the State 
     program under this section.
       ``(4) Procedural rights.--A State subject to adverse action 
     under this subsection shall have the same procedural rights 
     as a Head Start agency subject to adverse action under 
     section 641A.
       ``(o) Independent Evaluation.--
       ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall contract with an 
     independent organization outside of the Department to design 
     and conduct a multi-year, rigorous, scientifically valid, 
     quantitative evaluation of the State demonstration program.
       ``(2) Process.--The Secretary shall award a contract within 
     180 days of the date of enactment of the Improving Head Start 
     Act of 2007, to an organization that is capable of designing 
     and carrying out an independent evaluation described in this 
     subsection.
       ``(3) Analysis.--The evaluation shall include an analysis 
     of each State participating in the State demonstration 
     program, including--
       ``(A) A quantitative description of the State 
     prekindergarten program and Head Start programs within such 
     State, as such programs existed prior to participation in the 
     State demonstration program, including:
       ``(i) data on the characteristics of the children served, 
     including the overall number and percentages of children 
     served disaggregated by socioeconomic status, race and 
     ethnicity of those served;
       ``(ii) the quality and characteristics of the services 
     provided to such children; and
       ``(iii) the education attainment of instructional staff.
       ``(B) A quantitative and qualitative description of the 
     State program after each year of participation in the State 
     demonstration, which shall include each of the following:
       ``(i) A description of changes in the administration of the 
     State program, including the Head Start program, within such 
     State.
       ``(ii) The rate of progress of the State in improving the 
     school readiness of disadvantaged children in the key domains 
     of development.
       ``(iii) Data as described in subparagraph (A), as updated 
     annually.
       ``(iv) The extent to which each State has met the goals 
     established by such State with respect to annual goals as 
     described under section 643(h)(10).
       ``(4) Report.--(A) The Secretary shall provide an interim 
     report on the progress of such evaluation and of the progress 
     of States participating in the State demonstration in 
     increasing the availability of high quality prekindergarten 
     services for low-income children not later than October 1, 
     2010 to the Committee on Education and the Workforce in the 
     House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, 
     Education, Labor, and Pensions in the Senate.
       ``(B) The Secretary shall provide a final report to the 
     Committee on Education and the Workforce in the House of 
     Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, 
     Labor, and Pensions in the Senate, not later than October 1, 
     2011, which shall include an overall evaluation of the State 
     demonstration program, including an assessment of its success 
     in increasing the overall availability of high quality 
     prekindergarten services for

[[Page H4357]]

     low income children in each of the participating States as 
     compared to a representative sample of non-participating 
     States.
       ``(p) State Participation Agreement.--Following the 
     submission of an application fulfilling all requirements of 
     this section, a State that meets all eligibility requirements 
     set forth in section 643A(a)(2) and is selected by the 
     Secretary to participate in the demonstration program under 
     this section shall:
       ``(1) maintain or increase fiscal year 2007 State funding 
     levels for early childhood education;
       ``(2) provide an additional contribution of non-federal 
     funds equal to 5 percent of the State's Federal Head Start 
     allotment;
       ``(3) use Head Start funding only for the purposes of Head 
     Start as described in section 636;
       ``(4) provide all comprehensive social services currently 
     available to Head Start children, including health and 
     nutrition;
       ``(5) develop a strategy to maximize parental involvement 
     to enable parents to become full partners in the education of 
     their children;
       ``(6) demonstrate that the qualifications and credentials 
     for early childhood teachers meet or exceed the standards in 
     section 648A(a)(2)(A), (B), and (C);
       ``(7) enforce quality standards for school readiness that 
     are aligned with K-12 educational standards and generally 
     meet or exceed the Federal Head Start performance standards;
       ``(8) continue funding, for a period of 60 months, all 
     current Head Start grantees as described in section 643A(d);
       ``(9) provide services described in section 641A that are 
     at least as extensive as were provided, and to at least as 
     many low-income children and families in the State, in each 
     fiscal year as were provided such services in the base year;
       ``(10) establish a comprehensive collaboration effort to 
     integrate Head Start, state-funded pre-kindergarten programs, 
     Even Start, Title I preschool, and Early Reading First;
       ``(11) participate in independent evaluations of the 
     demonstration program authorized under this subchapter; and
       ``(12) submit to Federal oversight by the Secretary.
       ``(q) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term 
     `base year' means the fiscal year 2007.''.

  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman from 
Georgia (Mr. Price) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the opportunity to 
offer this amendment. I would urge my colleagues to support it. This is 
an amendment of expansion and educational opportunities for our young 
children.
  In 1965, when Head Start was implemented, State-run early childhood 
development programs didn't exist. Since then, and most recently, and 
in the past 15 years, States have invested considerable resources into 
early childhood initiatives. This amendment seeks to provide an 
incredible opportunity for eight States to participate in a 5-year 
demonstration program and leverage their resources and experience to 
improve school readiness.
  It would allow eight States to coordinate Head Start and early 
childhood State-run programs, thus improving coordination, preventing 
duplication and expanding the number of children that can be served by 
the early childhood services. To carry it out, safeguards would be put 
in place. States would have to ensure that participants receive 
services that are as good or better than those in the Head Start 
program, including health, nutrition, mental health services on top of 
the educational services.
  Enacting a demonstration program will result in expanding the number 
of children that can be served, which is not possible in Head Start or 
just a State-run program alone. This is an innovative program that 
would help more children in our Nation, and I urge my colleagues to 
adopt this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition 
to this amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from California is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, Members of the House, 
we are here today to authorize the Head Start program. What this 
amendment would do would simply end Head Start in those eight States as 
we know it. There would be no requirement that those States would take 
the money that we have set aside, that we have worked hard to provide 
within the budget for the Head Start program and use it to implement a 
program that is anything like Head Start, because there would simply be 
no requirements on that money to provide the kind of comprehensive 
programs that are now required under the Head Start program that have 
demonstrated the success that we just spent an hour with speakers from 
both sides of the aisle attesting to in their own districts or on a 
national basis as members of the committee have talked about what we 
are doing in this reauthorization. These States would be eligible for 
these funds without demonstrating any expertise or commitment to the 
high quality of this proven preschool program.
  Essentially that's the end of it in those eight States. Now, maybe 
one of those States will have a strong commitment to Head Start and all 
the rest of it. That's what Head Start is. That's what Head Start is. 
Why are we running this money through another filter system to recreate 
the Head Start program? We already require, and we went through a 
series of hearings about coordination with the States to make sure that 
Head Start coordinates with other State programs and State agencies.
  But we also know that because of what we have done with Head Start 
over the years, where we have provided reauthorization after 
reauthorization, the continuous improvement of the programs that are 
integral to the success of Head Start and to the success of the 
children, where we have used scientific-based educational and 
performance standards, where we have provided for accountability and 
oversight and evaluation of the program, where we have provided for the 
parent policy councils, all of these things that have been integral to 
this program over this time to bring it to a point now where we can see 
that it demonstrates a marked impact on these young children in closing 
the achievement gap for these children and getting them ready and the 
skills that they will need for early reading, for early math, for early 
writing, that is what this program does.
  There are not many States that do any of that. They have a lot of 
early childhood programs. They have a lot of child care programs, they 
have a lot of it. But they don't have this comprehensive program. 
That's why this is considered the premier program in the Nation for the 
education and the development of these young children. That is why we 
should not support this block grant amendment.
  I daresay that we have watched over the last decades effort after 
effort be made to block grant programs. Generally, where they have been 
successful, they have been the first step to the budget cuts, to the 
loss of quality. That's what's involved here.
  Again, when we structured this legislation, and in consideration of 
the budget and the increases in the money, we are putting 60 percent of 
the money into quality, into teacher and professional development, into 
salaries, because we recognize that we have to have that continuous 
update and that improvement of the Head Start program.
  Voting for this amendment is not to vote for Head Start; it's to vote 
for something, but it's not to vote for Head Start. It's, in fact, 
detrimental because that money, then, is out of the Head Start system 
to be used for whatever purposes. In fact, you can take this Federal 
money and then withdraw the local money. There is no requirement in 
this amendment that there be a maintenance of effort by a State to do 
this.
  What have you really done? You have taken money for the Federal 
taxpayers that paid into this program that we have decided on a 
bipartisan basis should go for the Head Start program. You said, oh, 
you can give it to a State, and they can draw their money out the 
bottom. So we put the taxpayers' money in at the top, and the State 
takes the money out of the bottom.
  That is not going to improve quality. That is not going to improve 
access. Now, you can argue that maybe you can add a lot of children to 
a program, a program, not the Head Start program, because the Head 
Start program is expensive because we do it the way we should be doing, 
the way it has been scientifically analyzed and supported by the data.
  You can put a lot of kids in low-quality programs, but that is not 
what we

[[Page H4358]]

are trying to achieve. We are trying to achieve high quality so we get 
the results that Head Start gets and most other States don't get.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, may I inquire as to how much time 
remains.
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Georgia has 3\1/2\ minutes 
remaining.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. The gentleman from California?
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from California has 30 seconds remaining.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the chairman's 
passion on this, but his testimony bears little resemblance to reality. 
I would urge him to read the amendment which states clearly on page 11, 
``Head Start services furnished in a State program under this section 
shall include all Head Start services.''
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to my good friend from Delaware 
(Mr. Castle).
  Mr. CASTLE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, I strongly support this amendment. I have a tremendous 
amount of respect for the chairman of the committee, Mr. Miller, but I 
disagree with him on his basic premise here.
  I do believe that the Governors of this country, which I had the 
chance to be one, seems eons ago now, but a few years ago, have a 
tremendous and strong interest in the children of their States and in 
the education of those children.
  I also believe that in the time since Head Start was created, that 
many of these Governors have put together prekindergarten, 
kindergarten, early childhood programs. I think they are ready to move 
forward with this. I think in many instances they have been competitive 
with, if not even ahead of, Head Start. We basically backed off from 
what the White House proposed originally, which is to give all 50 
States the option to do this, to a pilot program of eight States.
  There are requirements that those eight States match these funds, in 
fact, put in extra money in order to be able to enter into this program 
of dealing with the Head Start-type programs. The State demo would be 
limited to States with a demonstrated investment in early childhood 
education and established existing preschool system.
  You can't just jump into this and take the money or whatever. You 
have to show you are ready for it, and that you are ready to do it, and 
you are ready to put the money into it. I believe strongly that those 
States should be afforded the opportunity. I actually think the 
competition with some of the Head Start providers would be positive in 
terms of developing the opportunity for young children.
  I would hope that everybody would stop for a moment and take time for 
a moment to listen to this amendment and the arguments pro and con 
before votes are cast on it. I believe Mr. Price has demonstrated 
through Georgia, as well as other States, that this is something which 
could be beneficial to the children, which is really what this is all 
about, hopefully helping those children in poverty so that they could 
move ahead.
  I hope everybody will support the amendment.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield 15 seconds to 
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee).
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I would just say in reading the amendment 
that States should generally follow the standards. I served in a State 
legislature for 12 years in appropriations, and I know what license 
that word ``generally'' gives to a State legislature in a State 
government. Generally it does not keep these really good high standards 
that we have worked on for 42 years on in this bill.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I would just say that 
is exactly the point. Yes, it offers all services, but it doesn't 
require the same high-quality service we have now. You can do all of 
these things, but you end up doing these things on the cheap because 
the demand is for slots. We have seen that tension here all the time.
  There are no requirements here that you have anything comparable to 
the quality and the requirements in the Head Start program, and yet you 
are you are taking money out of the program to give it for these other 
purposes.
  I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. McKeon).
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, before I came to Washington, I served in 
local government on the school board, on the city council. I have great 
respect for local leadership. I don't know what we're afraid of.
  Sometimes I get the feeling that people here in Washington feel that 
all wisdom resides within the Beltway. I just think that to give the 
opportunity to a maximum of eight States to try to expand and bring 
creativity to a program that's good, to make it better, I think is 
nothing but a good thing, and it's on the upside.
  I commend the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price) for this amendment. 
I encourage all to support it.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, how much time remains?
  The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Georgia has 45 seconds remaining.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the perspective of 
the other side, but I would suggest, respectfully, that that's an old 
argument. It's an old argument about a block grant. This is not a block 
grant. This is a demonstration program that would allow States to serve 
more children, not fewer children, more, more than is currently 
possible than just with Head Start or with State-run early childhood 
development programs.
  Economies of scale, it works. Funding levels for Head Start and early 
childhood services would be protected. Demonstration program States 
will be able to eliminate overlap, eliminate duplication of services, 
and participants must have access to services that are as extensive or 
greater than those found in Head Start. That's what the amendment 
states.
  I urge my colleagues to read the amendment. I appreciate the fact 
that they have had previous amendments in legislation before them, but 
I urge them to read this amendment. I think they will find the common-
sense aspect of it.
  I appreciate the opportunity to offer it, and I urge my colleagues to 
adopt the amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Price).
  The question was taken; and the Chairman announced that the noes 
appeared to have it.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings 
on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia will be 
postponed.

                              {time}  1600


                 Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Sestak

  The CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3 printed 
in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 3 offered by Mr. Sestak:
       Page 159, after line 12, insert the following (and make 
     such technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):

       ``(g) Incentives for Head Start Teachers and Early Head 
     Start Teachers.--
       ``(1) Statement of purpose.--It is the purpose of this 
     subsection to encourage individuals to begin and continue 
     teaching in Head Start programs and Early Head Start 
     programs.
       ``(2) Program authorized.--
       ``(A) In general.--From the sums appropriated pursuant to 
     paragraph (9), the Secretary of Education, in consultation 
     with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is 
     authorized carry out a program to forgive, in accordance with 
     this subsection, the student loan debt of any borrower who 
     has one or more loans described under subparagraph (B) made 
     on or after October 1, 1998, and who--
       ``(i) commits to working as a Head Start teacher or an 
     Early Head Start teacher for at least 3 consecutive complete 
     program years;
       ``(ii) has a bachelor's degree in a field related to early 
     childhood education; and
       ``(iii) is not in default on a loan for which the borrower 
     seeks forgiveness.
       ``(B) Method of loan forgiveness.--To provide the loan 
     forgiveness authorized in subparagraph (A), the Secretary of 
     Education, in consultation with the Secretary of

[[Page H4359]]

     Health and Human Services, shall, subject to subparagraph 
     (C), carry out a program--
       ``(i) through the holder of the loan, to assume the 
     obligation to repay a qualified loan amount for a loan made 
     under section 428 or 428H of the Higher Education Act of 1965 
     (20 U.S.C. 1078, 1078-8); and
       ``(ii) to cancel a qualified loan amount for a Federal 
     Direct Stafford Loan or a Federal Direct Unsubsidized 
     Stafford Loan made under part D of title IV of such Act (20 
     U.S.C. 1087a et seq.).
       ``(C) Treatment of consolidation loans.--A loan amount for 
     a loan made under section 428C or section 455(g) of such Act 
     (20 U.S.C. 1078-3, 1087e(g)) may be a qualified loan amount 
     for the purposes of subparagraph (B) only to the extent that 
     such loan amount was used to repay a loan made under section 
     428 or 428H, a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, or a Federal 
     Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan for a borrower who meets 
     the requirements of subparagraph (A), as determined in 
     accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
     Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and 
     Human Services.
       ``(3) Qualified loan amount.--After the beginning of the 
     qualifying employment described in paragraph (2)(A)(I) and 
     upon approval of a borrower's application under paragraph 
     (5), the Secretary of Education, in consultation with the 
     Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall forgive under 
     this subsection not more than $10,000 of the student loan 
     obligation of a borrower that is outstanding at the beginning 
     of such employment.
       ``(4) Award basis.--Loan forgiveness under this subsection 
     shall be on a first-come, first-served basis and subject to 
     the availability of appropriations.
       ``(5) Application for forgiveness.--
       ``(A) In general.--Each borrower desiring loan forgiveness 
     under this subsection shall submit a complete and accurate 
     application to the Secretary of Education at such time, in 
     such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary 
     of Education, in consultation with the Secretary of Health 
     and Human Services, may require.
       ``(B) Service agreement.--Each such application shall 
     contain an agreement by the borrower--
       ``(i) to complete the commitment described in paragraph 
     (2)(A)(I) within 6 years after receiving loan forgiveness 
     under this subsection; or
       ``(ii) to repay the portion required by the regulations 
     under paragraph (6)(A) if the borrower does not complete such 
     commitment.
       ``(6) Repayment for failure to complete service.--
       ``(A) In general.--In the event that any recipient of loan 
     forgiveness under this subsection fails or refuses to 
     complete a portion of the recipient's service obligation 
     under the agreement required by paragraph (5)(B), the same 
     portion of the amounts of loans forgiven under this 
     subsection for such recipient shall be subject to repayment 
     in accordance with terms and conditions, and in the amounts, 
     specified by the Secretary of Education, in consultation with 
     the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in regulations 
     under this subsection.
       ``(B) Forgiveness if deceased or disabled.--Such 
     regulations shall provide that, subject to the availability 
     of appropriations, an individual shall be excused from 
     repayment of any amount required under paragraph (1) if the 
     individual dies or becomes permanently and totally disabled 
     (as determined in accordance with such regulations).
       ``(7) Regulations.--The Secretary of Education, in 
     consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
     is authorized to issue such regulations as may be necessary 
     to carry out the provisions of this subsection.
       ``(8) Construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall be 
     construed to authorize any refunding of any repayment of a 
     loan.
       ``(9) Authorization of appropriations.--There are 
     authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subsection 
     such sums as may be necessary for fiscal year 2008 and each 
     of the 4 succeeding fiscal years.
       ``(10) Definitions.--In this subsection:
       ``(A) Head start teacher.--The term `Head Start teacher' 
     means an individual who--
       ``(i) is employed by a Head Start agency or an entity that 
     carries out an Early Head Start program, to provide for the 
     education and care of children who have not reached the age 
     of compulsory school attendance who are enrolled in a Head 
     Start program or an Early Head Start program receiving funds 
     under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et. seq.); and
       ``(ii) who has, at a minimum, an associate's degree in 
     early childhood education or a related field.
       ``(B) Program year.--The term `program year', where applied 
     to service as a Head Start teacher or an Early Head Start 
     teacher, means a program year as defined by the Secretary of 
     Health and Human Services.''.
  The CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Sestak) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. SESTAK asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of this 
amendment, to encourage more individuals to become Head Start and Early 
Head Start teachers, and to provide a way for existing Head Start 
teachers to improve their skills and education.
  This amendment is just building upon the efforts of someone that I 
have grown to very much respect, Congressman Tierney, who has been 
working on this issue for years.
  Specifically, this amendment proposes loan forgiveness of up to 
$10,000 for Head Start and Early Head Start teachers upon completion of 
a bachelor's degree, who will commit to working in a Head Start or 
Early Head Start program for at least 3 consecutive years.
  Earlier this spring, I held my district's first education summit, 
bringing together over 300 educators, experts, and citizens. We 
discussed the need to provide and retain high quality Head Start 
teachers, who serve our country's most disadvantaged, low-income 
children.
  Head Start teachers are so critical at the time of a child's 
cognitive reasoning development, and this amendment recognizes this by 
ensuring that more than 55,000 Head Start teachers have the means of 
getting their bachelor's degree by forgiving their student loan burden.
  As we call for increased qualifications in the Head Start workforce 
in H.R. 1429, with 50 percent Head Start teachers nationwide now to 
hold a bachelor's degree by 2013, we should also provide the means to 
help them reach this goal. This amendment offers one way of helping 
current Head Start teachers upgrade their qualifications, as well as to 
encourage future and current students to enter this important field of 
teaching.
  The rising cost of higher education is a concern for many, and 
repaying student loans is often too burdensome for these teachers, 
particularly when one realizes that Head Start teachers' average annual 
salary is only approximately $24,000 a year, forcing teachers not to go 
on to receive advanced degrees, or else to leave the profession in 
order to repay their student loans.
  This amendment will help to ensure that we are able to recruit and 
retain a high quality workforce for our Nation's Head Start programs.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this critical amendment to help 
our children's future.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN (Mr. Kind). The gentleman from California is 
recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, while I support the intent of the 
amendment, which I think is good and which we included in last year's 
bill that we passed, the higher ed reauthorization bill, that I think 
is a better vehicle for this particular amendment.
  I would encourage the Member to withdraw it and put this in the 
higher ed bill when we move later this year to reauthorize that. It 
fits better there.
  We did a study, and we found that most of the education programs 
don't come under the Department of Education, they come under 39 other 
bureaucracies throughout this town. And it would be, I think, moving to 
try to have things more organized. It fits better under the Higher Ed 
Act, and I would encourage that the gentleman put it under that. 
Otherwise, I would oppose this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Connecticut (Mr. Courtney).
  Mr. COURTNEY. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of Congressman Sestak's 
amendment which flushes out, I think, the direction that this bill is 
taking, which is to try and improve the quality of teachers by 
mandating bachelor's degrees and associate's degrees over a very short 
period of time.
  For a lot of the teachers in the Head Start program, though, this 
still begs the question, which is, how do you pay for it?
  Higher education costs have gone up 40 percent over the last 6 years, 
and unfortunately the prior Congresses took no action to raise the size 
of Pell Grants. And we have obviously taken

[[Page H4360]]

some steps towards reducing the cost of interest rates under the 
Stafford Student Loan program, but for many teachers, the challenge of 
paying for higher education costs, in Connecticut the average salary 
for Head Start teachers is $24,000, and the Sestak amendment goes right 
to the heart of trying to make this new requirement affordable. I 
believe it is totally germane and central to the intent of this Head 
Start reauthorization bill. This amendment belongs there, and I 
strongly urge the Members to support passage of the Sestak amendment.
  I want to thank Congressman Sestak for offering this important 
amendment today. It would provide concrete assistance for early 
childhood educators in Connecticut and around the country to attain 
their bachelors degree. As you know, the Head Start bill before us 
increases teacher qualifications--half of teachers nationwide have a BA 
by 2013 and all new teachers have at least an associate's degree 
beginning in 2009.
  This amendment also provides a strong incentive for students to enter 
the field and for established early childhood educators to remain in 
the field. Loan forgiveness of up to $10,000 is contingent upon at 
least 3 years service in a Head Start facility. Too often, our best and 
brightest educators are forced out of the profession because the 
salaries cannot keep up with individual and family economic demands.
  In Connecticut, where the median Head Start salary is approximately 
$24,000, going back to school to attain a higher degree to satisfy the 
new teacher qualification requirements would be an economic hardship.
  While I am pleased to say that Connecticut met the national goal of 
having at least 50 percent or more of its teachers having an 
associate's degree in early childhood education by the year 2003, the 
financial burden to now attain a bachelor's degree will be high.
  We all know that college costs are rising and the last thing we want 
to do is encourage more debt. That is why I am so supportive of this 
amendment.
  The need for committed, enthusiastic, and qualified Head Start 
teachers is on the rise. In Connecticut, there are more than 25 Centers 
serving more than 8,000 children. Poverty levels in many parts of the 
state are rising. Children receive valuable educational enrichment in 
Head Start programs, ensuring that they are on the path to educational 
success in elementary school and beyond. We cannot afford to leave 
children unprepared and we cannot afford to lose our best and talented 
teachers either.
  This amendment provides the incentive to enter or remain in the early 
childhood education field and I urge my colleagues to support this 
amendment.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
California (Ms. Woolsey).
  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Chairman, we must ensure that every child who could 
benefit from Head Start is able to enroll in a Head Start center. One 
way to do that is to provide full funding; another is to provide that 
we have the facilities we need; and, one of the most important ways is 
to ensure that we have qualified teachers.
  The base bill increases the requests and requirements for teacher 
qualification, and it supports higher salaries and requires more 
college degrees. Therefore, including this amendment in the Head Start 
bill is absolutely appropriate, because this amendment helps Head Start 
teachers get the degrees that we are demanding that they have. And we 
do this by offering loan forgiveness to those teachers, teachers who 
teach in the Head Start programs. Loan forgiveness will help balance 
out low salaries, and it will assist with teacher retention.
  Head Start is about the best thing we can do for our children, 
because this successful program gives children from all backgrounds a 
level playing field when they enter elementary school.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Kildee).
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  It has been suggested that we put this in the Higher Education bill, 
but the Higher Education bill has been kind of stalled. And I always 
believe you put your cargo on the train that is moving, and this train 
is moving.
  The Senate reported its version out of committee. I think we have a 
much better chance to get this done if we put it on this bill. This 
train is moving.
  Mr. SESTAK. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Sestak).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chairman announced that the 
ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
will be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 4 Offered by Ms. Hirono

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 4 
printed in House Report 110-116.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 4 offered by Ms. Hirono:
       Beginning on page 124, strike line 8 and all that follows 
     through line 9 on page 126, and insert the following:
       ``{g} Monitoring, Training, Technical Assistance, and 
     Evaluation.--
       ``(1) Requirement.--To ensure the successful operation of 
     programs assisted under this section, the Secretary shall use 
     funds from the portion specified in section 640(a)(6) to 
     monitor the operation of such programs, evaluate their 
     effectiveness, and provide training and technical assistance 
     tailored to the particular needs of such programs.
       ``(2) Training and technical assistance account.--
       ``(A) In general.--Of the amount made available to carry 
     out this section for any fiscal year, not less than 5 
     percent, and not more than 10 percent, shall be reserved to 
     fund a training and technical assistance account. In 
     determining the amount so reserved, the Secretary shall 
     consider the number of new programs serving pregnant women, 
     infants, toddlers, and their families, recognizing their need 
     for more intensive training and technical assistance services 
     during program expansion.
       ``(B) Activities.--Of the funds in the account described in 
     subparagraph (A)
       ``(I) not less than 50 percent shall be available to local 
     entities that carry out Early Head Start programs for 
     training and technical assistance activities in order to make 
     program improvements identified by such entities;
       ``(ii) not less than 30 percent shall be available to the 
     Secretary to support a State-based system of early childhood 
     education training and technical assistance to local entities 
     that carry out Early Head Start programs that shall meet the 
     requirements of subparagraph (C), including the creation, 
     management, and support of a national network of the State-
     based infant-toddler specialists specified in such 
     subparagraph; and
       ``(iii) the remainder of such amount shall be available to 
     the Secretary to assist local entities that carry out Early 
     Head Start programs in meeting and exceeding the standards 
     described in section 641A(a)(1), including--

       ``(I) making grants to, and entering into contracts with, 
     organizations with specialized expertise relating to infants, 
     toddlers, and families and the capacity needed to provide 
     direction and support to a national training and technical 
     assistance system, in order to provide such direction and 
     support;
       ``(II) providing ongoing training and technical assistance 
     on Early Head Start program development and improvement for 
     regional staff charged with monitoring and overseeing the 
     administration of the program carried out under this section;
       ``(III) developing training and technical assistance 
     materials and resources to support program development and 
     improvement and best practices in providing services to 
     children and families served by Early Head Start programs;
       ``(IV) creating special training and technical assistance 
     initiatives targeted to serving high risk populations, such 
     as children in the child welfare system and homeless 
     children;
       ``(V) providing ongoing training and technical assistance 
     to Early Head Start grantees, and support and program 
     planning and implementation assistance for new recipients of 
     such grants, including the conversion of Head Start grants to 
     Early Head Start grants; and
       ``(VI) providing professional development designed to 
     increase program participation for underserved populations of 
     eligible children.

       ``(C) Contracts.--For the purposes of delivering a State-
     based training and technical assistance system, as described 
     in subparagraph (B)(ii), that will meet the needs of local 
     grantees and provide high quality, sustained, and intensive 
     training and technical assistance on programming for infants 
     and toddlers to Early Head Start programs and in order to 
     help such programs meet or exceed the program performance 
     standards described in section 641A(a)(1), the Secretary 
     shall--
       ``(i) enter into contracts in each State with 1 or more 
     entities that have a demonstrated expertise in supporting the 
     delivery of high quality programs for pregnant women and 
     children less that 3 years of age, except that bi-State or 
     multi-State contracts may be entered into if the demographics 
     of proximal

[[Page H4361]]

     States make such a system more appropriate;
       ``(ii) ensure that contracts awarded under clause (I) are 
     in an amount sufficient to provide for each state a minimum 
     of one full-time specialist with expertise in the development 
     of children under age three and programming for pregnant 
     women and such children;
       ``(iii) to the maximum extent practicable, ensure that the 
     contracts awarded Under clause (I) and the services provided 
     therein are integrated with and augment the contract or 
     contracts awarded and services provided under section 648 
     (n); and
       ``(iv) ensure that the entities described in clause (I) 
     determine the types of services to be provided through 
     consultation with--

       ``(I) local entities that carry out Early Head Start 
     programs;
       ``(II) the State Head Start collaboration office; and
       ``(III) the State Head Start Association.''.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono) and a Member opposed each will 
control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Hawaii.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, I rise today to ask for my colleagues' 
support for this amendment, to improve Early Head Start.
  The amendment revises the training and technical assistance system by 
ensuring that these services are provided by entities with specific 
expertise in infant and toddler development. It also directs at least 
50 percent of training and technical assistance funds directly to the 
grantees. These are the people on the ground working with children who 
are best able to prioritize their training needs for the purpose of 
program improvement.
  In our hearing on the bill in the Committee on Education and Labor, 
we heard that Head Start providers are not getting the assistance they 
need under the current system. One program director said that it had 
been 10 months since she saw her technical assistance specialist.
  The current system centralized control often results in the 
assistance specialist spending more time filling out forms for their 
supervisors than directly helping the program directors in the field. 
The bill we are debating today solves this problem for the Head Start 
program serving preschoolers by directing the responsibility for 
training and technical assistance responsibility into the State-based 
system that can better meet the needs of the local providers.
  Early Head Start directors experience similar problems, and, 
therefore, should get a similar solution. This amendment provides that 
solution and, furthermore, requires that these State-based technical 
assistance providers include individuals with infant and toddler 
expertise available to work with Early Head Start providers.
  Rigorous evaluations show that the Early Head Start program has made 
a positive difference in the lives of participating children and their 
families. This bill expands the Early Head Start program, which 
currently serves only 3 percent of eligible infants and toddlers. And 
as Early Head Start expands, we must ensure that individual programs 
have the knowledge and skills to provide positive outcomes for 
participants. This amendment will do that, and I urge all of my 
colleagues to support it.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentlewoman 
yield?
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank her very much for 
introducing this amendment, and we rise in support of this amendment. 
We think it improves the legislation, and thank her for her 
consideration.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition to 
the amendment, even though I support the gentlelady's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the gentleman from California 
is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McKEON. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the gentlelady's amendment, which 
revises the training and technical assistance program for Early Head 
Start by ensuring that training and technical assistance are provided 
by entities with specific expertise in infant and toddler development. 
I believe that that makes a stronger bill, and I thank her for her 
amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Hirono).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chairman announced that the 
ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Hawaii 
will be postponed.


                  Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Mica

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 5 
printed in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 5 offered by Mr. Mica:
       Page 154, line 9, strike ``2013'' and insert ``2011''.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Mica) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to take a minute to 
compliment Mr. Miller and also Mr. McKeon. This is one of the most 
important bills that this Congress will take up in this session because 
it deals with, as Mr. Miller said, as I listened to his opening 
statement, with our disadvantaged youth. And, unfortunately, we have 
many in this country. But it gives those youth the opportunity for the 
future and the opportunity that we have all shared that are here on 
this floor and many of us listening Members.
  I think the bill is a step in the right direction in requiring that 
at least 50 percent of all Head Start teachers nationwide have a 
bachelor's or advanced degree in childhood education or related field 
by September 30, 2013. My amendment is a simple amendment. It would 
move up that date 2 years, to 2011.
  I am not a newcomer to this debate. I could go back to 1993, when I 
came here, and give statements from the floor and back over the years. 
My degree is in education. I am usually here on transportation and 
enjoy my service on that committee. But as someone educated as an 
educator, nothing is more important than the quality of education and 
those professionals that we have.
  The Mica amendment moves up the date to have professionals in place 
to 2011. We can do that. We have done it before. We have actually 
required qualifications, and now we have more than a majority having an 
associate degree. So we have done this in the past. Currently, 38 
percent of all of our Head Start teachers already meet this goal, so we 
are only talking about 12 percent in 4 years as opposed to 6 years.

                              {time}  1615

  Does it really take 6 years to get an additional 12 percent of the 
teachers to be in our most important educational program with these 
qualifications?
  Now, we've moved this program from what I called it 14 years ago, 
from a glorified babysitting program, to a program that is giving our 
students the opportunity for quality educational opportunity. And these 
young people, at this age, deserve the very best. They are coming from 
the very worst, the worst as far as disadvantage in our society, the 
worst as far as opportunity, as far as family setting, as far as their 
readiness for school.
  Mr. Miller talked about making them ready for school. Well, do you 
want them ready with someone who is unqualified or someone with the 
best qualifications?
  Better prepared, Mr. Miller talked about. We need the most skilled 
professionals to give them the preparation. And these are our toughest 
students, the very toughest students. Do you want someone with or 
without qualifications?

[[Page H4362]]

  I posed a question, and probably the reason I got this amendment out 
here to the Rules Committee, which is mostly composed of Democrat 
Members listening, there are more Head Start programs in Democrat 
districts than there are in Republican districts, just by the sheer 
economics of it, the demographics. I said, what if I came with a 
proposal that said, in kindergarten I'm going to recommend that we only 
have 50 percent of the teachers having a bachelor's degree in Democrat 
districts; how would you like that?
  Well, this is what's happening here as you're mandating that we have 
a poorer quality of teachers with quality for another additional 2 
years. So I think we can do better.
  You heard the $24,000 average pay. That's right. We're going to 
increase on average a half a billion dollars, from $6.9 billion to $7.4 
billion.
  In my schools, in closing, there are choices. I won't name the 
counties, but I have seven teachers in one program with $23,000 average 
salary. I have nine administrators with salaries from $32,000 to 
$41,600; another county, 21 teachers, $20,100 average salary, eight 
administrators with salaries from 31- to $42,000. So it's not always 
how much we spend, it's how we spend it. And we need to spend it on 
quality education for these, our most disadvantaged students. So I urge 
you to consider and pass my amendment.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition 
to the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from California is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 2 
minutes.
  Mr. Chairman and Members of the House, I rise in opposition to this 
amendment, simply for the simple fact that we are trying to balance, in 
this legislation, the best we can do to increase the number of teachers 
with a B.A. degree in child education, child development and at the 
same time meet the other needs of the program. And to accelerate that 
effort on behalf of more teachers with an M.A. upsets that balance.
  It's not like, with all due respect to my friend on the other side, 
and he shares my concern for teacher quality, it's what I've spent my 
public life trying to do. The fact of the matter is this is a program 
that essentially has received less than the COLA, last year got a 1 
percent cut. And the fact of the matter is we're trying to patch it 
back up, trying to bring it back to the level where it was around 2002, 
and recognizing that we want to increase the access to a number of 
children, so money has to go for slots, money has to go for 
professional development, money has to go for quality, and money has to 
go for the salaries, and that's the balance that we have put in this 
program.
  The date that you have was the date that you had at the beginning of 
2005 when we started considering this legislation. That legislation 
didn't get through. We're now 2 years later, so we moved it back 2 
years so that the programs can balance, can rebuild the quality, can 
add additional slots for the million children who are now waiting, and 
that's the balance that we arrived at on both sides of the aisle.
  You could offer an amendment and say, well, there's a million 
children waiting. Let's put all the money into slots. Then you just 
reduce the quality and the availability to pay teachers to have them to 
stay.
  So this isn't a game where you can just pick out one part of the 
program and say, let's put the money there, and that's the reason why 
we did what we did. And I don't think that this amendment is helpful in 
terms of our ability to hold on to current staff that have B.A.'s, and 
that's the staff we're trying to build, and then to attract additional 
ones to be able to put some money into that pay quality, and the 
additional slots. And I would hope that we would oppose this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Kildee).
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I don't question the motives of Mr. Mica, 
but his amendment would jeopardize program quality by speeding up the 
deadline for the 50 percent of the Head Start teachers having their 
bachelor's degrees.
  Budgets have really forced Head Start centers to make very difficult, 
sometime impossible decisions to reduce services or to serve fewer 
children. And I fear that the Mica amendment would exacerbate the hard 
choices which Head Start programs have faced over recent years because 
this Congress has not appropriated the kind of money we need.
  The bill that came out of committee, by 42-1, establishes, I think, a 
rather reasonable and ambitious time line for 50 percent of our Head 
Start teachers to attain their bachelor's degrees. Under this time 
line, the bill ensures that Congress can provide the necessary funding 
to achieve this goal. We have to, as I think we have done in this bill 
which came out of committee, we have to balance the improvements in the 
program with the real resources. If we had unlimited resources, we 
could do all these things. But I think the bill balances the 
improvements with the resources.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I urge a ``no'' vote 
on this amendment and yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chairman announced that the 
noes appeared to have it.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will 
be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mr. Kennedy

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 6 
printed in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 6 offered by Mr. Kennedy:
       Page 3, line 2, strike ``(22) and (23)'' and insert ``(23) 
     and (24)''.
       Page 3, line 4, strike ``(20)'' and insert ``(21)''.
       Page 3, line 6, strike ``(15) through (18)'' and insert 
     ``(16) through (19)''.
       Page 3, line 8, strike``(13)'' and insert ``(14)''.
       Page 4, line 20, strike the close quotation and the comma 
     at the end.
       Page 4, after line 20, insert the following:
       ``(13) The term `inclusive classroom' means a Head Start 
     classroom that contains both children with disabilities and 
     children without disabilities.'',
       Page 136, line 20, strike ``and'' at the end
       Page 136, line 25, strike the period at the end and insert 
     ``; and''.
       Page 136 after line 25, insert the following:
       ``(17) assist Head Start agencies and programs to increase 
     the capacity of classroom staff to meet the needs of eligible 
     children in inclusive classrooms.''.
       Page 160, strike lines 6 through 12, and insert the 
     following:
       (A) in paragraph (8) by adding ``and'' at the end,
       (B) by striking paragraphs (9) and (10) and insert the 
     following:
       ``(9) contribute to understanding the impact of Head Start 
     services delivered in inclusive classrooms on both children 
     with disabilities and children without disabilities, and 
     develop practices for increasing the availability and quality 
     of inclusive classrooms.''.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman 
from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Rhode Island.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Chairman, I'd first like to thank my colleague, John 
Hall, for his work on this amendment. He was president of his local 
board of education and knows this issue inside and out from the local 
perspective. And his work on this has been absolutely instrumental in 
its preparation.
  I also want to thank Chairman Miller and Chairman Kildee, without 
whom the work of those for whom this amendment is designed to help, the 
disability community, those children with disabilities, this amendment 
is designed to supplement.
  Frankly, Mr. Chairman, this amendment is really an attempt to just 
support what is already in this bill in the way of support of inclusive 
education. What this amendment seeks to do is use those dollars in this 
bill for teacher education and research, to support the notion that we 
ought to include children in the classrooms with disabilities

[[Page H4363]]

so that we can both better educate those teachers teaching those 
children with disabilities in how to teach both children with 
disabilities in integrated classrooms, in inclusive classrooms, as well 
as learn from their experiences in doing so, both to the benefit of 
both children in those inclusive classrooms; and use evidence-based 
research that we know is constantly coming towards us in terms of how 
to identify children with autism, how to identify children with 
learning disabilities and use those new findings and be able to employ 
them to the benefit of these children's growth and their development.
  Mr. Chairman, that is why we've introduced this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition, 
even though I support the gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the gentleman from California 
is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I believe that this is an improvement to the bill and will assist 
Head Start programs which are required to spend 10 percent of their 
funds on services to disabled students in improving the quality of 
their programs to serve young children.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Chairman, I'd yield 2 minutes to my good friend and 
colleague from New York, John Hall.
  Mr. HALL of New York. Mr. Chairman, I won't need that much time.
  Thank you to my colleague from Rhode Island and from the other side 
of the floor, who just spoke in favor of this amendment. I would like 
to take a moment to commend all who support this issue.
  There are 27 Head Start facilities in my district, and they provide 
critical services to families that want their children to have every 
opportunity to grow and succeed. I'm glad that the bill we are 
considering today will expand access to Head Start and help make sure 
that America's less well-off children can have a great chance of long-
term success when they arrive in our schools.
  The amendment will help to meet these goals by providing more support 
for inclusive education. This is the practice of teaching children with 
disabilities in the same classrooms as those without disabilities, and 
it has largely been shown to have a positive effect on the development 
of those children with disabilities.
  The Head Start Act already requires that 10 percent of enrollment 
slots go to students with disabilities, and the actual number of 
enrollees is even higher, at about 13 or 14 percent.
  Although these classrooms can provide increased educational benefits, 
they also present teachers and staff with increased demands. Teachers 
and staff have often been forced to try to handle greater 
responsibilities without the necessary resources. This amendment would 
help to bridge that gap by allowing training and technical assistance 
funds to be spent to enhance the ability of classroom staff to meet the 
needs of eligible children in inclusive classrooms.
  Providing more resources for teacher training and support, this 
amendment would make great strides in improving the quality of the 
educational experience for all children in a class.
  Another fundamental goal of the Head Start program is to make sure 
that all children have the best chance of success in school and in 
life. The second provision of this amendment will help to further serve 
those goals by working to make sure that the inclusive classroom 
environment benefits every student, including typically developing 
children. It would do so by allowing research and evaluation funding to 
be used in further studying the impact of inclusive classrooms on the 
educational experience of children with or without disabilities.
  I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. Speaker, let me just say, I offer this amendment in 
honor of my aunt, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who started the Special 
Olympics, who has inspired me in this work; and my uncle, Sarge 
Shriver, who was the first and founding director of Head Start, both 
individuals who are inspirations to me and to millions in this country.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Kennedy).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Putnam

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 7 
printed in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 7 offered by Mr. Putnam:
       Page 37, beginning on line 10, strike ``subsections (a), 
     (b), and (c) of''.
       Beginning on page 39, line 21, strike ``, except'' and all 
     that follows through line 3 on page 40, and insert as period.
       Beginning on page 40, strike line 7 and all that follows 
     through line 10 on page 45, insert the following:
       ``(c) Designation on Competitive Basis.--
       ``(1) Selection.--From among entities that submit plans 
     under subsection (b), the Secretary shall, after''.
       Beginning on page 52, strike line 20 and all that follows 
     through line 2 on page 53.
       Page 53, line 3, strike ``(g)'' and insert ``(d)''.
       Page 53, line 7, strike ``(h)'' and insert ``(e)''.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Putnam) and a Member opposed will each control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.

                              {time}  1630

  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself 3\1/2\ minutes.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today to urge my colleagues to support a very 
important amendment to H.R. 1429, and I want to commend Mr. Kildee, Mr. 
Miller, Mr. McKeon, and the others who have worked so hard on this 
important bill.
  Head Start is a tremendously important program in the early childhood 
education continuum, but it is also desperately in need of reforms.
  As we all know, the purpose of Head Start is to help disadvantaged 
children be better prepared to enter school. But we are doing those 
children an enormous disservice and squandering taxpayer dollars if we 
do not hold the providers of Head Start services to a higher level of 
accountability. The existing language in 1429 allows for automatic 5-
year renewal of applications, automatic renewal, if they simply meet 
minimum standards to the satisfaction of the review panel. Providers 
that don't meet the standards must enter into open competition for 
acceptance of their applications. I would respectfully submit this does 
not go far enough.
  For the sake of ensuring the programs are performing better than 
minimal or better than good enough and as a safeguard for the taxpayers 
who foot the bill, I believe we should require that all Head Start 
providers face open competition. Such competition will encourage a 
higher level of performance and serve as a check on unscrupulous 
practices.
  Mr. Chairman, I am very familiar, unfortunately, with what can happen 
when a provider is allowed to skate through without the discipline that 
comes from competition. In my own district, the Polk County Opportunity 
Council became a poster child for mismanagement and abuse since its 
dealings first became public in 2003, which actually had followed a 
probationary status just several years before. Years of investigation 
have revealed breath-taking examples of malfeasance and mendacity.
  There has been everything from sweetheart deals involving the 
purchase of office equipment to claims for nonexistent hurricane 
damages, essentially amounting to insurance fraud. At one point the 
PCOC even fabricated a false ``certificate of compliance'' from the 
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which it tried to use to 
short-circuit other investigations of its misdealings. It took 3 years, 
3 years, to defund that agency, and the entire appeals process along 
the way, and this only applies to the Head Start program, the entire 
appeals process was paid for not by the agency,

[[Page H4364]]

not by the grantee, but by the taxpayers. The taxpayers paid the bill 
for them to appeal mismanaging the taxpayers' dollars. Competition, I 
believe, an open competition, would go a long way towards solving that 
problem.
  The effect of these abuses not only squandered taxpayer dollars, but 
it diverted resources from some of the neediest and most deserving 
members of our community. That is an outrage. We must expect better and 
we must do better. We cannot allow these types of abuses to become the 
norm. We should not maintain a system that simply continues the status 
quo. Let's expect providers of Head Start programs to compete with 
other potential providers, which, unlike during the creation of Head 
Start, today there are a number of State and local governments and 
private entities that can provide that service. Then we will truly be 
giving these needy children the head start they deserve.
  I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to oppose the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Michigan is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, the Putnam amendment would jeopardize the 
seamless services that many high-quality Head Start programs with very 
deep roots in their communities provide to disadvantaged children. 
Because the quality of our Head Start programs is critical to ensuring 
that disadvantaged children receive the benefits of Head Start, this 
bill, which passed out with only one dissenting vote from committee, 
implements a new process to recompete underperforming programs. The 
amendment by Mr. Putnam guts the bill's provision to ensure that high-
quality Head Start programs do not have to recompete for their grants.
  They are reviewed by a panel of experts we put in place to look at 
them. They are reviewed and have to satisfy that review, but they do 
not then have to recompete.
  The Putnam amendment also eliminates the bill's provisions to ensure 
a fair and equitable process for recompeting underperforming Head Start 
programs. And we worked hard to get a fair and equitable process for 
that.
  By striking those provisions, which he does in his amendment, the 
Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to create its own 
system for recompetition.
  We worked hard with the Head Start community to try to ensure that we 
would have a panel of experts that would assure that the unperforming 
programs were really improved or put out of the system but not have the 
high performing have to go through the recompetition process every 5 
years, but be reviewed by the panel of experts.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Chairman, I yield 30 seconds to the distinguished 
ranking member from California.
  Mr. McKEON. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, I think this is a good amendment that Mr. Putnam has 
put forth. I don't think we should fear competition. I think the idea 
that once a program is granted, it should have lifelong tenure, I 
think, is something we should avoid. I think competition and 
accountability is good. Once every 5 years, programs that are good 
should not fear competing to keep the program for another 5 years. I 
think it is always good to have somebody coming up behind you that is 
going to make you do a little bit better.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Chairman, the amendment provides for competition 
among agencies that are given millions of dollars to manage programs 
for our neediest children. And unlike during the creation of the Head 
Start program, today across America there are thousands of potential 
providers. School boards are now in the early childhood business. 
United Way is now in the early childhood business. Local communities 
are now in the early childhood business, providing tremendous 
educational opportunities for our neediest young people before they 
enter kindergarten.
  We want them to enter kindergarten ready to learn, and we want to 
guarantee that the grantees that are managing these precious Head Start 
dollars are running an adequate, professional, thoughtful program and 
being good stewards of the people's money. By providing for 
recompetition every 5 years, we are guaranteeing, as my ranking member 
friend from California said, that they understand that it is not their 
birthright to continue that.
  I urge my friends to support this amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Putnam).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chairman announced that the 
noes appeared to have it.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida will 
be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 8 Offered by Mr. Porter

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 8 
printed in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 8 offered by Mr. Porter:
       Page 159, line 12, strike the close quotation and the 
     period at the end.
       Page 159, after line 12, insert the following:
       ``(g) Staff Recruitment and Selection Procedures.--Before a 
     Head Start agency employs an individual, such agency shall--
       ``(1) conduct an interview of such individual;
       ``(2) verify the personal and employment references 
     provided by such individual; and
       ``(3) obtain--
       ``(A) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal record check 
     covering all jurisdictions where the grantee provides Head 
     Start services to children;
       ``(B) a State, tribal, or Federal criminal record check as 
     required by the law of the jurisdiction where the grantee 
     provides Head Start services; or
       ``(C) a criminal record check as otherwise required by 
     Federal law.''.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman 
from Nevada (Mr. Porter) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Nevada.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  It is an honor to be here to talk about something very critical, I 
think, to our families and communities across the country.
  If you recall, last year this body passed historic legislation 
providing for protection of our children in light of the abuse of our 
kids throughout schools across the country. We passed legislation to 
provide for 24 additional States to do background checks on teachers 
via FBI background and other means through law enforcement. 
Unfortunately, 24 States were not allowed to, for many different 
reasons, and that legislation provided for these background checks. 
Through my amendment that is being proposed today, close to a million 
kids that are in the Head Start program will have the same tools 
available to them that we passed just last year to help kids in K-12.
  There is one tragic example. There is one grantee in this country 
that between 2001 and 2005 did not perform background checks on their 
employees. They finally did background checks. Out of 660 employees, 
close to 106 had criminal charges against them, including first degree 
murder, involuntary manslaughter, domestic abuse, assault, child abuse, 
DUI, and violent crimes.
  Mr. Chairman, my language ensures that Head Start programs will have 
all the databases containing criminal records available to them to make 
sure that our parents can feel that their most precious resource, their 
children, will be safe in the Head Start program.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume to Ranking Member 
McKeon.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  And I have seen the work that he has done over the years in 
protecting children. I think that children are our most vital asset. 
And because of the risk out there of the kind of lawbreakers that he 
mentioned that we could eliminate by having a good, solid

[[Page H4365]]

background check, I think this is a tremendous amendment. I think it 
really strengthens the bill.
  I thank the gentleman for his work on behalf of children, and I urge 
support of the amendment.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, I rise to speak in support of the 
amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the gentleman from Michigan 
is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Chairman, we support the amendment.
  Many of these are included in the regulations, but you would put it 
in the statute now and expand them, and I think you have done a very 
good job in your expansion of that.
  I commend you for your work on this. I commend you for your concern 
for children. It is very important. We certainly want to protect our 
children, and I think this is a very good amendment and we support it.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Porter).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Carnahan

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 9 
printed in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 9 offered by Mr. Carnahan:
         Page 35, after line 10, insert the following (and make 
     such technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
         (d) Enrollment.--Section 640(g) of the Head Start Act (42 
     U.S.C. 9835(g)) is amended by adding at the end the 
     following:
         ``(5) In the event that the amounts appropriated to carry 
     out the program under this subchapter do not exceed the 
     amount appropriated in the prior fiscal year, or exceed the 
     amount appropriated in the prior fiscal year by an amount 
     equal to less than the percentage change in the Consumer 
     Price Index For All Urban Consumers, as published by the 
     Bureau of Labor Statistics, Head Start grantees may negotiate 
     with the Secretary a reduced funded enrollment level without 
     a reduction in the grant amount if such grantee can 
     demonstrate that such reduction is necessary to maintain the 
     quality of services.
         ``(A) In accordance with this paragraph, the Secretary 
     shall set up a process for grantees to negotiate the above-
     mentioned reduced funded enrollment level.
         ``(B) Under the conditions detailed in this paragraph, 
     the Secretary shall be required to notify grantees of their 
     right to negotiate a reduced funded enrollment level if such 
     grantee can demonstrate that such reduction is necessary to 
     maintain the quality of services.''.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman 
from Missouri (Mr. Carnahan) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
  Mr. CARNAHAN. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  I want to really thank Chairman Miller and Ranking Member McKeon for 
their leadership on this bill under consideration today. The Improving 
Head Start Act of 2007 is a very good bill, and I am pleased to be able 
to support it and be here today and speak on this amendment.
  I want to inquire first, before I got into the text of this, if there 
are any others that wanted to speak on our side, having just gotten 
into the Chamber. If not, I will proceed.
  I am presenting this amendment to H.R. 1429 based on recommendations 
I received from my district Head Start leaders to address the goal of 
maintaining quality in the Head Start program. My amendment would allow 
for Head Start grantees to negotiate a funded enrollment level with the 
HHS Secretary if funding for the program does not keep pace with 
inflation.
  Over the past 3 years, Head Start and Early Head Start have 
experienced an estimated 8 percent real decline, adjusted for 
inflation, in Federal funding from fiscal year 2002 through fiscal year 
2007. If this trend were to continue, the decline in funding would 
climb to 10 percent for Head Start programs. If President Bush's budget 
were to become law, the Head Start programs would suffer an 11 percent 
cut.
  This decline in funding has required already efficient Head Start 
agencies across the country to tighten their belts even more. Sadly, 
local agencies are now forced to pass these cuts on to quality staff.

                              {time}  1645

  By default, agencies are unable to compete for the best and brightest 
of early childhood educators, thus risking the quality of Head Start 
programs. Our local agencies are forced to make the worst in managerial 
choices. As Chairman Miller and others have pointed out, we must 
maintain and enhance both funding and quality.
  In my congressional district, I am proud to say that the four primary 
organizations responsible for administering Head Start services have 
successfully revitalized the program in the city of St. Louis. From 
2001 to 2003, the enrolled number of children grew from about 1,000 to 
a full enrollment of 3,000 children.
  Unfortunately, the compensation of St. Louis area Head Start staff 
has lagged behind the salaries of those in comparable positions. After 
consulting with some of the brightest business leaders in our area, our 
local agencies have taken extraordinary steps to conserve costs and 
maximize efficiencies. Even with these steps, agencies are unable to 
keep staff compensation in line with inflation increases both in wages 
and insurance costs.
  Programs in St. Louis and across the country are at a serious risk of 
losing quality staff due to this critical situation. In fact, many of 
you may have agencies within your districts that have experienced worse 
cuts across their service lines. They have turned to cutting key staff, 
reducing the number of weeks they operate in a year, and reducing the 
number of hours they operate in a day just in order to adjust for 
financial constraints. We must ensure that the historic quality and 
strength of Head Start is not placed in jeopardy.
  Many of us know the vast evidence demonstrating the profound 
difference Head Start makes both in the lives of children served and in 
our local communities. I know that has been talked about at great 
length here in presenting this bill.
  I just want to close and say, I think all of us would agree that Head 
Start programs should not have the right to request reduced enrollment 
levels unless they have taken all appropriate steps to achieve 
efficiency first. I want to clarify that my amendment gives HHS the 
discretion to determine whether or not individual agencies have 
explored all possible solutions prior to requesting reduced funded 
enrollment. The grantee must demonstrate that any reduction in 
enrollment is necessary to maintain the quality of services.
  I appreciate, again, all the efforts on this bill that have brought 
this forth in a bipartisan way, and appreciate the amendment being 
considered.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. CARNAHAN. I yield to the gentleman from California.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the gentleman.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment. This is what 
agencies have to do when the funding isn't sufficient and they are 
trying to hold on to the number of children, the hours of availability 
of the program and the quality of the teachers that are there. In the 
past when we had the cut, I believe the agency, HHS, allowed some local 
programs to do this. I would hope that this will not be a necessity. We 
are adding an additional $400 million to this program. I hope that the 
Appropriations Committee will be able to follow through.
  The amendment is a good amendment. I hope we don't have to use it, 
but it's a good amendment.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from California is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, this amendment allows grantees to negotiate 
a reduced enrollment level with the Secretary of HHS if the amounts 
appropriated for Head Start do not exceed the prior year's 
appropriation or include an increase commensurate with

[[Page H4366]]

the cost-of-living allowance. In effect, this amendment allows grantees 
to cut services for children and kick children out of the Head Start 
program if Congress does not appropriate ever-higher funding amounts 
for Head Start.
  I think all of us want to service as many children as we can, and we 
want to have as high an appropriation level as we can, but if we fail 
to appropriate higher numbers, I don't think we should take it out on 
the children. I ask my colleagues, is Head Start an early education 
program or a jobs program?
  We believe the purpose of Head Start is to help our Nation's most 
vulnerable youngsters lay the foundation for a very successful academic 
future. This misguided amendment has the potential for denying these 
children Head Start services, and I therefore urge my colleagues to 
oppose the amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Carnahan).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chairman announced that the 
ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Missouri 
will be postponed.


                Amendment No. 10 Offered by Mr. Cuellar

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 10 
printed in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 10 offered by Mr. Cuellar:
       Page 163, after line 3, insert the following (and make such 
     technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
       ``(ii) a description of the type of assessment or 
     assessments used to determine the rate of progress made by 
     limited English proficient children;''.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Cuellar) and a Member opposed each will control 5 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Texas.
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today to encourage my colleagues to support my 
amendment to the Improving Head Start Act of 2007.
  First of all, I would like to thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member 
McKeon, Chairman Kildee and Ranking Member Castle for bringing this 
legislation to the floor.
  Ensuring that Head Start continues to serve our communities is 
important to all of us. This straightforward amendment builds upon the 
strong foundation of this year's reauthorization. The reauthorization 
requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study 
of Head Start students with limited English proficiency.
  Studies have proven that the easiest time to learn a new language is 
when a child is young. With this in mind, early childhood is an 
important time for students with limited English proficiency to improve 
their grasp of the English language. Students who are fluent in 
multiple languages are better positioned to perform well in school.
  The legislation requires studies of the progress limited English 
proficiency students make towards proficiency. The amendment that I 
offer simply asks that the assessment used to determine progress in the 
English language skill development be described.
  The explanation of what is used is important for a couple of reasons. 
First, Head Start service providers will become more uniform in their 
instruction. If a description of assessment is not required, however, 
there may be a higher likelihood that it will become arbitrary.
  Second, educators learn from the practices of their colleagues. By 
having all Head Start providers describe the assessments they use, 
meaningful information will be gathered to help educators get ideas and 
make better informed decisions about their own practices. Enhancing 
consistency and sharing methods are meaningful ways we can help 
students with limited English proficiency make the progress that they 
need to make.
  My amendment is supported by the National Council of La Raza, the 
National Education Association, the Texas Migrant Council and the Texas 
Head Start Association. I urge my colleagues to support my amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to Chairman Miller, the gentleman from 
California.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. I thank the gentleman, and I rise in 
support of his amendment. I think his explanation is correct, that this 
will provide not only perhaps more uniformity in terms of the 
assessments, but also communications between programs as to which 
assessments are really working and which assessments are appropriate 
for this purpose. I think it is a good amendment, and I would hope that 
we would accept it. I thank the gentleman for offering it.
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition, 
even though I support the gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the gentleman from California 
is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment. I think 
it makes the bill stronger. Examining the number of children who are 
limited in English proficiency and monitoring the progress of these 
children is important to their mastery of the English language and will 
help determine future successes for these students in meeting the same 
challenging State academic content and student academic achievement 
standards that all children are expected to meet.
  I support the amendment, and I encourage our colleagues to support 
the amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CUELLAR. Mr. Chairman, again, I want to thank Chairman Miller, 
Ranking Member McKeon, Chairman Kildee and Ranking Member Castle for 
their support. And again, I ask for their support on this amendment and 
on the reauthorization of the Head Start Act of 2007.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cuellar).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                 Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mr. Shuler

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 11 
printed in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 11 offered by Mr. Shuler:
       Page 2, line 4, insert ``(a) Short Title._''.
       Page 2, after line 5, insert the following:
       (b) Sense of the Congress.--The Congress--
       (1) finds that--
       (A) while the steady economic growth and low inflation in 
     the United States has yielded unprecedented prosperity, many 
     children and families in this country have not benefited from 
     this prosperity and continue to be socioeconomically 
     disadvantaged,
       (B) many community- and faith-based organizations have 
     expertise in moving individuals and families from dependency 
     to self-sufficiency by providing families with the tools and 
     skills they need to participate in the community and 
     contribute to our economy,
       (C) the Head Start Act was established to help prepare low-
     income young children to succeed in school and in life by 
     addressing the needs of the whole child and providing 
     comprehensive services such as health and nutrition,
       (D) research confirms that children who attend Head Start 
     programs enter school better prepared than low-income 
     children who do not attend the program, are less likely to 
     need special education services, to repeat a grade, or commit 
     crimes in adolescence, and are more likely to graduate from 
     high school,
       (E) community- and faith-based organizations have 
     participated in Head Start programs since the enactment of 
     the Head Start Act in 1965 and continue to serve more than 
     90,000 children and their families,
       (F) parents have an integral role in the development and 
     implementation of Head

[[Page H4367]]

     Start programs, community- and faith-based providers of Head 
     Start services employ parents and encourage parents to 
     volunteer in the programs because parents are children's most 
     important and influential teachers,
       (G) community- and faith-based providers of Head Start 
     services not only serve the needs of low-income children and 
     their families but enrich, strengthen and reflect the 
     diversity of the communities wherein they reside, and
       (H) the Head Start Act is a critical component of America's 
     civil rights platform, and community and faith-based 
     organizations have been leaders in the civil rights movement 
     in the United States,
       (2) supports the continued role of community and faith-
     based organizations in Head Start programs as providers of 
     comprehensive services to children, families, and 
     communities, and
       (3) extends its gratitude to community- and faith-based 
     organizations that provide Head Start services, and to the 
     employees and volunteers for their commitment to the 
     education, health, and economic well-being of low-income 
     children and families.
       Page 52, after line 19, insert the following:
       ``(3) Continued eligibility.--Faith-based and community-
     based organizations continue to be eligible, on the same 
     basis as other organizations, to participate in any program 
     under this subchapter for which they are otherwise 
     eligible.''.
       Page 120, at the end of line 15, add the following:
     Faith-based and community-based organizations continue to be 
     eligible, on the same basis as other organizations, to 
     participate in any program under this section for which they 
     are otherwise eligible.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman 
from North Carolina (Mr. Shuler) and a Member opposed each will control 
5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I am proud to be a product of Head Start. As a young 
boy, I attended a Head Start program, and that helped make me the man 
that I am today.
  It's time for Congress to recognize that faith communities contribute 
to Head Start. That's why I am proud to introduce this amendment today, 
along with Congressman Ellsworth, Congressman Donnelly, Congressman 
Carney and Congressman Loebsack.
  This amendment thanks the community and faith-based organizations for 
the good work that they have done running the Head Start programs. It 
also confirms its right to continue running these programs.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from California is recognized for 
5 minutes.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, let's be very clear at the outset about why this 
amendment is being considered today: It's all about political cover. It 
has nothing to do with protecting the civil rights of faith-based 
providers. If that is what we are out to do today, we would be 
considering Mr. Fortuno's amendment right now. Instead, the majority 
has brought up a hollow, politically motivated attempt to have it both 
ways. On one hand, this amendment cheers the work of faith-based 
providers and recognizes their contributions to our Nation; but on the 
other hand, it leaves them completely unprotected when it comes to 
their right to preserve their identity while serving children in Head 
Start. Frankly, this is insulting to faith-based organizations as it is 
transparent. Let me elaborate.
  With respect to hiring authority, section 702(a) of title VII of the 
Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended in 1972, states, ``This subchapter 
shall not apply to a religious corporation, association, educational 
institution or society with respect to the employment of individuals of 
a particular religion to perform work connected with the carrying on by 
such corporation, association, educational institution or society of 
its activities.''
  Mr. Chairman, does this amendment reaffirm the language from this 
statute? No, it does not.
  Consistent with this language from the Civil Rights Act, former 
President Clinton signed four laws that explicitly allow religious 
organizations to retain their right to staff on a religious basis when 
they receive Federal funds. The 1996 welfare reform law, the Children's 
Health Act of 2000, the Community Services Block Grant Act of 1998, and 
the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 each contain language that 
reflects the language offered to the Rules Committee yesterday by Mr. 
Fortuno.
  Mr. Chairman, does this amendment reaffirm the language signed into 
law on four separate occasions by former President Clinton? No, it does 
not. The Fortuno amendment would codify a 2002 executive order 
protecting the right of a participating faith-based organization to 
display a cross or other religious symbols on its grounds. Mr. 
Chairman, does this amendment do the same? No, it does not.
  This amendment may have been written in such a way that may run 
counter to that executive order, potentially endangering rights faith-
based providers already enjoy.
  In short, Mr. Chairman, in an attempt to play politics, this 
amendment is, at best, an attempt to provide political cover for 
Members who do not want to take a real vote on the issue; and at worst, 
a poorly drafted measure that may end up turning back the clock on the 
rights of faith-based providers to display religious symbols. Because 
of that, I urge my colleagues to oppose it.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Donnelly).
  Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. Chairman, we don't need any political cover. We are 
proud to stand for this amendment. The only political games are those 
being played by others.
  I rise in support of this amendment, recognizing the important role 
that faith and community-based organizations play in Head Start's 
continued success. Head Start has been instrumental in advancing the 
development of comprehensive skills in disadvantaged children during 
the crucial years before they enter elementary school. Since 1965, Head 
Start has been a resounding success; in no small part because of faith-
based organizations, organizations I support fully.
  Since the beginning, community and faith-based organizations have 
been a part of this program and currently serve more than 90,000 
children and their families. Faith-based organizations play a critical 
role because they are intimately familiar with the community in which 
they serve and are driven by a moral commitment to our youth.
  This amendment reaffirms Congress' strong support for their current 
and future involvement in Head Start, making clear that regardless of 
rumors to the contrary, they will remain eligible on the same basis as 
other organizations to participate in Head Start.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge all my colleagues to support this amendment and 
the passage of H.R. 1429. I am proud to support it and the faith-based 
organizations that will serve it.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. George Miller).
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman 
for yielding and for offering this amendment.
  It is interesting that the other side would now oppose this 
amendment, but all day long they have been citing us the executive 
order with the exact same language in it as the basis for the right of 
faith-based organizations to participate in this program, a right that 
they have exercised now for more than 40 years. What your amendment 
does is to take it from the regulations and put it into the statute to 
guarantee them that right in the law, not just in the executive order 
and in the regulations.
  In my own district, the First Baptist organization runs the Head 
Start program. They do a marvelous job. The reason they are kicking up 
the smokescreen around Mr. Shuler's amendment is that they want to 
protect themselves, because they are going to come here with an 
amendment that is going to try to give people the right to discriminate 
against people based upon their religion, the right to discriminate 
with Federal dollars on religion.
  What Mr. Shuler's amendment does is to make sure that we do not 
weaken

[[Page H4368]]

the ability of faith-based organizations to participate, as they have 
over their proud history. That is why the broadest array of religious 
organizations will oppose what is going to be offered in the motion to 
recommit, but strongly support, strongly support, the Shuler amendment 
to add this language to the statute to provide this protection and to 
provide this recognition of the historical service and the ongoing 
service that these faith communities have provided to the children that 
are eligible for Head Start to provide that quality education year 
after year after year after year.
  That is what this amendment does. We should welcome it. We should 
adopt it overwhelmingly in this House and get on with the debate.
  Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman and his cosponsors for offering 
this amendment.
  Mr. SHULER. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Ellsworth).
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Indiana is recognized for 45 
seconds.
  Mr. ELLSWORTH. Mr. Chairman, I am proud to be a sponsor of this 
amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  This amendment honors faith-based and community-based organizations 
that provide essential health services and education to thousands of 
low-income children each and every day. This program is a perfect 
example of government and faith-based organizations partnering to 
provide every child an equal playing field in school and in life, and 
we must ensure these churches and schools receive the support they 
need.
  This amendment demonstrates our support to the thousands of families 
across Indiana who depend on Head Start programs run by faith-based and 
community organizations. These programs are dedicated to ensuring equal 
opportunities for Hoosier children, and I am proud to support them 
today on the House floor.
  I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and to pass this 
important bill.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I would like to read an excerpt from the 
Family Research Council. ``This bill should help ensure that faith-
based organizations with proven records of serving the neediest among 
us will be allowed the freedom to hire the best staff they see fit, 
free of burdensome regulation.''
  Unfortunately, it does not. If we had been able to discuss the 
Fortuno amendment today, we would have been able to vote on ensuring 
what they are asking for here. Later on in the discussion, I will add 
these letters, along with several others I have in support of the 
Fortuno amendment and in opposition to this amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, with that, I urge my colleagues to defeat this 
amendment.
       Mr. McKeon. Mr. Chairman, I submit the following letters 
     for the Record:

                                The Center for Public Justice.

                                                   April 30, 2007,
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker, House of Representatives,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. John Boehner,
     House Minority Leader,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Boehner: The 
     Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom, a multi-faith 
     a1liance of education, social-service, and religious freedom 
     organizations, asks for your support to make federal social 
     programs fully open to the participation of qualified faith-
     based organizations. We are concerned that some federal 
     legislation does not adequately invite faith-based 
     participation, while ensuring the religious liberty of 
     beneficiaries. We are also concerned that other federal 
     legislation, such as the Workforce Investment Act and the 
     Head Start Act, has language excluding faith-based 
     organizations that desire to retain their freedom when hiring 
     to take account of the religious convictions of potential 
     employees.
       We ask in particular for your support to make the Head 
     Start program hospitable to faith-based organizations when 
     H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act, comes up for floor 
     action.
       In the Education and Labor Committee's recent markup of the 
     bill, Resident Commissioner Fortuno's amendment to clarify 
     the eligibility of faith-based organizations to participate 
     in Head Start unfortunately was defeated. The amendment would 
     have added language making it explicit that faith-based 
     organizations are eligible to take part on the same basis as 
     secular organizations, without being required to minimize 
     their religious character. Such language reflects the U.S. 
     Supreme Court's turn in First Amendment interpretation to the 
     equal treatment or neutrality standard.
       As part of the confirmation of the equal eligibility of 
     faith-based providers, the amendment provided that religious 
     organizations participating in Head Start would no longer be 
     required to waive their freedom under the 1964 Civil Rights 
     Act to take account of religion when making employment 
     decisions. We understand that some members regard such an 
     affirmation of the Civil Rights Act's standard as introducing 
     pernicious religious job discrimination into the federal 
     early childhood education program. Yet the Civil Rights Act 
     expressly provides that it is not to be regarded as 
     discrimination when a religious organization considers 
     religion when evaluating potential employees.
       We believe that the Civil Rights Act got it right on this, 
     just as we believe that political and environmental 
     organizations must be free to assess job candidates on the 
     basis of ideological conviction. We see no reason why 
     religion (or political views or environmental convictions) 
     would suddenly become irrelevant to an organization's 
     internal life and commitments when it agrees to serve its 
     community in a partnership with government. Nor is it 
     unconstitutional for a religious organization that 
     receives government funds to continue to staff on a 
     religious basis. The federal judge in the major 2005 
     religious staffing case, Lown v. Salvation Army, 
     resoundingly affirmed the contrary.
       We respectfully request that you disavow the 
     characterization made by some members of Congress that 
     religious staffing by faith-based organizations is invidious 
     ``Job discrimination.'' ``We request that you support the 
     continuing effort in Congress to remove from federal programs 
     language contradicting the Civil Rights Act's affirmation of 
     the religious staffing freedom. We believe that programs such 
     as Head Start and the Workforce Investment Act should be 
     brought into line with the large majority of federal programs 
     that do not restrict religious staffing by faith-based 
     organizations that desire to collaborate with the government 
     to provide assistance.
       Thank you.
           Sincerely,
                                         Stanley W. Carlson-Thies,
                                    The Center for Public Justice.
       On behalf of the Coalition to Preserve Religious Freedom 
     and the undersigned organizations:
       Organizations are listed for identification purposes only.
       Dr. Robert C. Andringa, President Emeritus, Council for 
     Christian Colleges and Universities.
       Anne R. Apodaca, Executive Director, New Mexico Community 
     FaithLinks.
       Dr. Art Ayris, President, The Florida Bridge.
       Greg Baylor, Director, Center for Law and Religious 
     Freedom, Christian Legal Society.
       Richard Cizik, Vice President for Governmental Affairs, 
     National Association of Evangelicals.
       Rabbi Abba Cohen, Director and Counsel, Washington Office, 
     Agudath Israel of America.
       Paul Corts, President, Council for Christian Colleges and 
     Universities.
       Lisa Cummins, Center for New Communities.
       Rimmer DeVries, Camano Island, Washington.
       Nathan Diament, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of 
     America.
       Barrett Duke, Ph.D., Vice President for Public Policy and 
     Research, Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty 
     Commission.
       Mark L. Earley, President, Prison Fellowship Ministries.
       Rev. Bill Emery, Director, Virginia Roundtable.
       Dr. Bernard Fryshman, President, Association of Advanced 
     Rabbinical and Talmudic Schools, New York, New York.
       Mr. Israel Gaither, National Commander, The Salvation Army, 
     United States.
       Walter Gilbert, CEO, Open Door Adoption Agency, Inc., 
     Thomasville, GA.
       Dennis Griffith, Executive Director, Teen Challenge of 
     Southern California.
       Rev. John Hughes, Metro United Methodist Urban Ministries, 
     San Diego, CA.
       Andrea Lafferty, Executive Director, Traditional Values 
     Coalition.
       Donna Long, President, The National Bridge Alliance.
       John Long, President, The Georgia Bridge.
       Rev. Paul Lundberg, Atwater Baptist Church, Atwater, CA.
       Dr. Larry Martin, President, Kentucky Compassion Bridge.
       Freddie John Martin, Teltech Development Consulting 
     Corporation, Silver Spring, Maryland.
       Tom McClusky, Vice-President for Government Affairs, Family 
     Research Council.
       Ellen McKinley, Child Development Education Alliance, 
     Orange Park, FL.
       Stephen Monsma, The Henry Institute for the Study of 
     Christianity and Politics, Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI.
       Rev. James Ortiz, Senior Pastor, President, My Friend's 
     House, Assembly of God, Inc., Metro Impact Ministries. Inc., 
     Whittier Area Evangelical Ministerial Alliance, Whittier, 
     California.
       Rev. Carl Rehling, Diocesan Liaison for Justice and Peace, 
     Episcopal Diocese of Maryland.
       Shari Rendall, Director of Legislation and Policy, 
     Concerned Women for America.
       Amy L. Sherman, Director, Sagamore Institute Center on 
     Faith in Communities, Charlottesville, VA.

[[Page H4369]]

       Dr. Ronald J. Sider, Evangelicals for Social Action, 
     Wynnewood, PA.
       Dr. James W. Skillen, Center for Public Justice.
       Taylor Smith, Jr., Vice President of Executive Support, 
     Association of Christian Schools International.
       Dr. Robert Vickers, President, Artful Askers, The Missouri 
     Bridge.
       David Winter, Chancellor, Westmont College, Santa Barbara, 
     CA.
       Karen M. Woods, Executive Director, Empowerment Resource 
     Network.
       Terrence Woodnorth, Endicott, NY.
       Robert L. Woodson, Sr., Center for Neighborhood Enterprise.
       Dr. Carl Zylstra, President, Dordt College, Sioux Center, 
     Iowa.
                                  ____
                                  
         Association of Christian Schools International, Office of 
           Government Affairs,
                               Silver Springs, MD, April 23, 2007.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
     Hon. John Boehner,
     House Minority Leader,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Boehner:
       The Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), 
     which has member schools and preschools in every state, 
     applauds the strong bipartisan vote by the U.S. House 
     Education and Labor Committee that recently advanced the 
     Improving Head Start Act (H.R. 1429). We know that this 
     measure aims to strengthen the Head Start early childhood 
     education program's teacher and classroom quality, boost 
     coordination between Head Start and state and local early 
     childhood programs, and increase Head Start's financial 
     accountability. H.R. 1429 was introduced by a bipartisan 
     group of Members, led by the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, 
     Elementary, and Secondary Education's Chairman and Ranking 
     Republican Member, Rep. Dale Kildee and Rep. Mike Castle. The 
     undersigned commend these efforts.
       We do have a major concern which we hope will be corrected 
     before H.R. 1429 is voted upon and sent over to the U. S. 
     Senate. During consideration of the Improving Head Start Act, 
     the panel's majority chose to turn back an amendment offered 
     by Committee Member Luis Fortuno (PR) to protect the civil 
     liberties of faith-based providers by clarifying that these 
     institutions are not required to relinquish their Title VII 
     Civil Rights Act-hiring protections when they participate in 
     the federal Head Start program. The existing and historic 
     civil rights law explicitly protects the rights of religious 
     organizations to take religion into account in their hiring 
     practices, and former President Bill Clinton signed four laws 
     explicitly allowing faith-based groups to staff on a 
     religious basis when they receive federal funds. The Fortuno 
     amendment also ensures that religious organizations would not 
     be forced to remove art, icons, scripture, or other symbols 
     in order to receive federal Head Start funds--which 
     paralleled President Clinton's efforts [See 42 USC section 
     604a(d)(2)].
       Faith-based groups should not be forced to give up their 
     religious uniqueness because they want to assist the poor and 
     hurting of their community. The faith and values that 
     motivate these Americans to serve others should not be held 
     against them. ACSI, with its many early education members, 
     would like to cooperate with Head Start at the local level, 
     but cannot because of this inappropriate Federal religious 
     discrimination. We are hopeful that the House will have an 
     opportunity to consider this important issue again when the 
     Head Start bill comes to the House floor. The working-poor 
     families who depend on Head Start services are counting on 
     Congress to protect the Constitutional rights of both the 
     secular and religious organizations that provide an 
     ``educational jump-start'' for their children.
       We commend HE&L Committee Member Luis Fortuno of Puerto 
     Rico for his forthright stand that defends religious entities 
     and their Constitutional right to be faithful to their 
     religious beliefs, including the people they choose to hire. 
     We are contacting many Members of both parties, asking them 
     to protect and defend religious hiring rights of faith-based 
     entities. And finally, ACSI and the two dozen groups or 
     individuals who have signed this letter will do all that we 
     can to protect potential Head Start programs that could be 
     led by multi-faith-based groups in needy areas, but cannot 
     because of the chilling effect of the draconian structure of 
     current law. This is not a right to be given to Christian 
     schools only, but to people of other faiths who represent a 
     diverse, multi-faith society. Note additional cosigners 
     listed on page 2.
           Respectfully yours,
                                    Reverend John C. Holmes, Ed.D.
       Organizations may be listed for purposes of identification 
     only.
       Carl H. Esbeck, Legal Counsel to the Office of Governmental 
     Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals.
       Stephen Lazarus, M. Phil., Senior Policy Associate, Center 
     for Public Justice.
       Tim McGhee, President, Mountaintop Group.
       William Murray, Chairman, Religious Freedom Coalition.
       Rev. Paul Weyrich, Chairman and CEO, Free Congress 
     Foundation.
       Jim Backlin, Vice President for Legislative Affairs, 
     Christian Coalition of America.
       Star Parker, Founder and President, Coalition on Urban 
     Renewal & Education.
       Robert Heckman, Central City Partners.
       Maurine Proctor, President, Family Leader Network.
       Gary Bauer. President, American Values.
       Tom McClusky, Vice President of Government Affairs, Family 
     Research Council.
       Donald E. Wildmon, Founder and Chairman, American Family 
     Association.
       Ron Shuping, Executive Vice President, The Inspiration 
     Networks.
       Pam Pryor, Vice President of Government Affairs, We Care 
     America.
       Kevin ``Seamus'' Hasson, President, The Becket Fund for 
     Religious Liberty.
       Joseph Cella, President, Fidelis.
       Dr. Carl Herbster, President, AdvanceUSA.
       Stephen V. Monsma, Ph.D., Research Fellow, The Henry 
     Institute for the Study of Christianity and Politics, Calvin 
     College.
       Robin Stephenson, M.A., Director, Early Education Services, 
     Association of Christian Schools International.
       Ron Sider, President, Evangelicals for Social Action.
       Rev. Richard Cizik, M. Div., M.A., Vice President of 
     Governmental Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals.
       James Standish, J.D., M.B.A., Director of Legislative 
     Affairs, Seventh-day Adventist Church.
       Gregory S. Baylor, J.D., Director, Center for Law & 
     Religious Freedom, Christian Legal Society.
       The Salvation Army, USA Commander Israel Gaither, National 
     Commander.
                                  ____
                                  
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Speaker of the House of Representatives.
       Dear Madam Speaker Pelosi: The Association of Christian 
     Schools International (ACSI) wishes it were able to commend 
     Representatives Shuler (NC), Ellsworth (IN) and Loebsack (IA) 
     for their amendment to H.R. 1429 regarding Head Start and the 
     religious rights of faith-based groups. However, we cannot.
       The Shuler amendment does not actually do anything. It 
     merely lauds the history of Head Start and its relationship 
     with faith-based groups. Should the amendment be accepted by 
     the Rules Committee, it will only function as a ``fig leaf'' 
     to those who do not want to vote for the legitimate Religious 
     Freedom amendment, like the Fortuno amendment. Any worthwhile 
     amendment must protect religious freedom for faith-based 
     groups' right to hire co-religionists; and protect their 
     rights to show that they are religious by what they have on 
     their walls--such a Scripture. The Fortuno wording actually 
     reinforces the rights religious groups obtained in Section 
     VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Such staffing freedom 
     was held to be constitutional by the United States Supreme 
     Court (9-0) in Presiding Bishop v. Amos in 1987. We recently 
     sent the House Leadership a letter (see attached) that 
     explained ACSI's position on H.R. 1429 and its need for the 
     Fortuno amendment. This letter was cosigned by two dozen 
     individuals and groups, including the Salvation Army, USA, 
     which recently won a religious staffing decision in Lown v. 
     Salvation Army in 2005.
       We urge the Rules Committee to allow the Fortuno amendment 
     to be voted upon on the House floor in an up-or-down vote. 
     This stand-alone amendment gives Congress the opportunity to 
     vote for or against religious freedom. Faith-based 
     organizations that exist to impact the lives of at-risk 
     children--especially in the inner cities--need a truly 
     religious freedom amendment to bring hope to otherwise 
     hopeless families.
       Regrettably, the Shuler amendment would only be a way of 
     continuing to deny truly faith-based groups from 
     participating in Head Start with a clear conscience.
           Respectfully yours,
                                         Rev. John C. Holmes, EdD,
                                ACSI Director, Government Affairs.

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Shuler).
  The question was taken; and the Acting Chairman announced that the 
ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further 
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from North 
Carolina will be postponed.


                 Amendment No. 12 Offered by Mr. Space

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 12 
printed in House Report 110-116.
  Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
  The text of the amendment is as follows:

       Amendment No. 12 offered by Mr. Space:
       Page 136, strike lines 21 through 25, and insert the 
     following (and make such technical and conforming changes as 
     may be appropriate):
       ``(16) provide assistance to address the unique needs of 
     programs located in rural communities, including--
       ``(A) removing barriers related to the recruitment and 
     retention of Head Start teachers in rural communities;

[[Page H4370]]

       ``(B) developing innovative and effective models of 
     professional development for improving staff qualifications 
     and skills for staff living in rural communities;
       ``(C) removing barriers related to outreach efforts to 
     eligible families in rural communities;
       ``(D) removing barriers to parent involvement in Head Start 
     programs in rural communities;
       ``(E) removing barriers to providing home visiting services 
     in rural communities; and
       ``(F) removing barriers to obtaining health screenings for 
     Head Start participants in rural communities.''.
       Page 148, after line 25, insert the following (and make 
     such technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):
       ``(5) ensure that in entering into such contracts as 
     described in paragraph (1), such entities will address the 
     needs of grantees in both urban and rural communities.''.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 348, the gentleman 
from Ohio (Mr. Space) and a Member opposed each will control 5 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio.
  Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the Space-Hare-Welch-Altmire 
amendment to H.R. 1429.
  Mr. Chairman, I believe that Head Start is critical for our Nation's 
working families. We are a Nation founded on equality and opportunity 
for all. All of our Nation's children deserve the opportunity to 
participate in early childhood development programs regardless as to 
the financial standing of their families.
  Head Start programs in rural areas face many unique challenges in 
delivering services. The January 2007 report from the National Advisory 
Committee on Rural Health and Human Services confirms the unfortunate 
reality that rural Head Start programs are, in many ways, 
disadvantaged.
  Simply put, in rural and geographically isolated areas the distance 
between Head Start providers and participants is a significant mountain 
to climb. Especially as gas prices continue to stretch both program and 
household budgets, the cost of transportation can be prohibitive. These 
distances can also impede Head Start programs from reaching out to 
families eligible to participate. It is certainly a tragedy when 
families can't enjoy the opportunities offered by Head Start programs 
because they didn't know about them, not because they weren't there.
  I am particularly concerned about barriers to parental involvement. I 
believe that parental involvement fostered by Head Start programs is 
incredibly important. There is no responsibility of our society more 
sacred or profound than raising our children. Bringing parents together 
to share in this experience strengthens our communities, creating bonds 
that can bring them closer together.
  In rural areas, parental involvement is again a challenge. The 
realities of less advantaged areas can keep parents away from these 
programs. This is simply a missed opportunity to build our communities.
  I believe that H.R. 1429 offers significant improvements to rural 
Head Start programs, and I applaud the work of my colleagues on the 
Committee on Education and Labor for making assistance to these areas a 
priority.
  In particular, I wish to thank my colleague from Illinois (Mr. Hare) 
for his amendment in committee that draws attention to the challenges 
of teacher retention and the recruitment of new participants in our 
Nation's rural areas.
  Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise to claim the time in opposition, 
though I am not opposed to the gentleman's amendment.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the gentleman from California 
is recognized for 5 minutes.
  There was no objection.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I think that this amendment makes it a 
stronger bill. Rural grantees are more likely to rely on home visits 
due to problems associated with staffing and transportation. Head Start 
in-home programs are required to make a minimum of 32 visits per year, 
or one per week. In addition, there must be a minimum of 16 group 
socialization activities per year.
  For this reason, I rise in support of this amendment to provide 
additional training and support to rural Head Start programs facing 
these challenges to ensure that all children can access the skills 
necessary to succeed in school.
  I urge my colleagues to support the amendment.
  Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hare).
  Mr. HARE. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
  Mr. Chairman, I am honored to join Congressmen Space, Welch and 
Altmire in introducing this amendment to improve Head Start programs 
for rural communities.
  Much of my congressional district is rural. Therefore, I am very 
sensitive to the unique challenges that Head Start centers and rural 
families face in providing or accessing Head Start programs. Some of 
these challenges include instructor shortages, access to Head Start 
programs and outreach to eligible families.
  As a member of the Education and Labor Committee, I had the privilege 
of addressing these concerns during the markup of this bill. The 
amendment we present today expands those efforts by directing the 
Education Secretary to provide the technical assistance and training to 
remove barriers to professional development, parental involvement, home 
visits and health screening in rural areas.
  It is my hope that with this commitment from the Secretary and with 
the addition of services geared towards the needs of rural families, 
more eligible children will enroll in and experience the benefits of 
the Head Start program. Rural communities consist of the low-income 
populations that Head Start was created to serve. Therefore, it is 
critical that we address the challenges these communities face in 
administering Head Start to ensure that those families have the access 
to the opportunities they need and they so much deserve.
  Again, I thank my colleagues for helping me on this issue, and I urge 
all Members to vote ``yes'' to improve the rural Head Start program by 
passing the Space-Hare-Welch-Altmire amendment.
  Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire).
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his 
leadership on this issue, and I rise in strong support of this 
amendment. I am happy to lend my name to it, because this amendment 
simply says that rural communities which have distinct needs in Head 
Start programs will now have a level playing field with the changes 
that have been made under H.R. 1429, which I strongly support.
  This bill builds on Head Start's proven success in a way that is 
going to benefit parents and teachers who are involved in the program. 
We want to ensure through this amendment that those successes carry 
forward into rural communities, specifically as it relates to 
professional development, parental involvement, home visits and health 
screenings.
  So I am pleased to lend my name to this. It is a great amendment, and 
I thank the gentleman from Ohio for his leadership.
  Mr. SPACE. Mr. Chairman, I yield the balance of my time to the 
gentleman from California, Chairman Miller.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman 
from Ohio for offering this amendment and for bringing this perspective 
to this legislation, along with Mr. Hare and Mr. Altmire and Mr. Welch, 
and for representing the rural communities and raising these issues 
during this debate and during the consideration of this legislation.
  Sometimes issues get overlooked in the rush to reauthorize the bill 
and to reauthorize it from a single perspective, so I appreciate this 
information that they have brought to us. I think the direction to the 
Secretary to review and to look at these barriers and to see what we 
can do to remove them so that we can assure both the participation of 
the children in the program and of their families and their parents as 
is designed by the law is important.
  Mr. Chairman, I urge the adoption of the amendment.

[[Page H4371]]

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the amendment offered by the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Space).
  The amendment was agreed to.


                  Announcement by the Acting Chairman

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, proceedings 
will now resume on those amendments on which further proceedings were 
postponed, in the following order:
  Amendment No. 2 by Mr. Price of Georgia.
  Amendment No. 3 by Mr. Sestak of Pennsylvania.
  Amendment No. 4 by Ms. Hirono of Hawaii.
  Amendment No. 5 by Mr. Mica of Florida.
  Amendment No. 7 by Mr. Putnam of Florida.
  Amendment No. 9 by Mr. Carnahan of Missouri.
  Amendment No. 11 by Mr. Shuler of North Carolina.
  The Chair will reduce to 5 minutes the time for any electronic vote 
after the first vote in this series.


            Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Price of Georgia

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The unfinished business is the demand for a 
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia 
(Mr. Price) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which 
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 165, 
noes 254, not voting 18, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 277]

                               AYES--165

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boustany
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Carter
     Castle
     Chabot
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis, David
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     Emerson
     Everett
     Fallin
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Granger
     Hall (TX)
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hulshof
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     LaHood
     Lamborn
     LaTourette
     Lewis (CA)
     Linder
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McKeon
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Poe
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (TX)
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Upton
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                               NOES--254

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Bordallo
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Butterfield
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castor
     Chandler
     Christensen
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, Lincoln
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Farr
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Flake
     Frank (MA)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Graves
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     Klein (FL)
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Norton
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Reyes
     Rodriguez
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shuler
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Souder
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walsh (NY)
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wilson (OH)
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--18

     Boehner
     Brady (PA)
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Engel
     Faleomavaega
     Fattah
     Feeney
     Gillibrand
     Hunter
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lampson
     McMorris Rodgers
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Rogers (KY)
     Simpson
     Tancredo


                  Announcement by the Acting Chairman

  The Acting CHAIRMAN (during the vote). Members are advised 2 minutes 
remain in this vote.

                              {time}  1740

  Messrs. COHEN, RODRIGUEZ and HILL and Ms. WOOLSEY changed their vote 
from ``aye'' to ``no.''
  Mrs. BACHMANN and Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas changed their vote from 
``no'' to ``aye.''
  So the amendment was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.


                 Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Sestak

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The unfinished business is the demand for a 
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Sestak) on which further proceedings were postponed 
and on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. This will be a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 312, 
noes 107, not voting 18, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 278]

                               AYES--312

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Alexander
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bartlett (MD)
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berman
     Berry
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blumenauer
     Boozman
     Bordallo
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boustany
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Butterfield
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castor
     Chabot
     Chandler
     Christensen
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, Lincoln
     Davis, Tom
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Drake
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Farr
     Ferguson

[[Page H4372]]


     Filner
     Fortenberry
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Frank (MA)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hobson
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (NY)
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Knollenberg
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     LaTourette
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Mica
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Norton
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pearce
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rodriguez
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schmidt
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuler
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (OH)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                               NOES--107

     Akin
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Barton (TX)
     Biggert
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cantor
     Carter
     Castle
     Coble
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis, David
     Deal (GA)
     Doolittle
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     Everett
     Fallin
     Feeney
     Flake
     Forbes
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Granger
     Graves
     Hall (TX)
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hoekstra
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Johnson, Sam
     Jordan
     King (IA)
     Kingston
     Kline (MN)
     Lamborn
     Latham
     Lewis (CA)
     Linder
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     McCarthy (CA)
     McHenry
     McKeon
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Pence
     Petri
     Poe
     Price (GA)
     Putnam
     Rohrabacher
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Upton
     Walberg
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Westmoreland
     Wicker
     Wilson (SC)

                             NOT VOTING--18

     Berkley
     Brady (PA)
     Cannon
     Cole (OK)
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Engel
     Faleomavaega
     Fattah
     Gillibrand
     Hunter
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lampson
     McMorris Rodgers
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Serrano
     Tancredo


                  Announcement by the Acting Chairman

  The Acting CHAIRMAN (during the vote). Members are advised there are 
2 minutes remaining in this vote.

                              {time}  1747

  Mr. EVERETT changed his vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
  So the amendment was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  Stated for:
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 278, had I been present, I 
would have voted ``aye.''
  Mr. SERRANO. Mr. Chairman, on rollcall No. 278, had I been present, I 
would have voted ``aye.''


                 Amendment No. 4 Offered by Ms. Hirono

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The unfinished business is the demand for a 
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Hawaii 
(Ms. Hirono) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which 
the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. This will be a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 372, 
noes 50, not voting 15, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 279]

                               AYES--372

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Bordallo
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boustany
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Brady (TX)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown, Corrine
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Butterfield
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castle
     Castor
     Chabot
     Chandler
     Christensen
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Culberson
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Lincoln
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Everett
     Fallin
     Farr
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Frank (MA)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Granger
     Graves
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Hall (NY)
     Hall (TX)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hobson
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Inslee
     Israel
     Issa
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Jordan
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (NY)
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Lamborn
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Lynch
     Mack
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Mica
     Michaud
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Norton
     Nunes
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pearce
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rodriguez
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Royce
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Ryan (WI)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schmidt
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Sensenbrenner
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuler
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Walz (MN)
     Wamp
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt

[[Page H4373]]


     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (OH)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                                NOES--50

     Bachmann
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Burton (IN)
     Cantor
     Carter
     Coble
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Feeney
     Flake
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gingrey
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hoekstra
     Inglis (SC)
     Johnson, Sam
     King (IA)
     Kingston
     Linder
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     McCrery
     Miller, Gary
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Pence
     Poe
     Price (GA)
     Radanovich
     Sali
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Weldon (FL)
     Westmoreland

                             NOT VOTING--15

     Brady (PA)
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Engel
     Faleomavaega
     Fattah
     Gillibrand
     Gutierrez
     Hunter
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lampson
     McMorris Rodgers
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Tancredo


                  Announcement by the Acting Chairman

  The Acting CHAIRMAN (during the vote). Members are advised there are 
2 minutes remaining on this vote.

                              {time}  1756

  So the amendment was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.


                  Amendment No. 5 Offered by Mr. Mica

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The unfinished business is the demand for a 
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Mica) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which the 
noes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. This will be a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 137, 
noes 286, not voting 14, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 280]

                               AYES--137

     Aderholt
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Barton (TX)
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carter
     Chabot
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Deal (GA)
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Everett
     Fallin
     Feeney
     Forbes
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Granger
     Graves
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hobson
     Hulshof
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     Kirk
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Lamborn
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lewis (CA)
     Linder
     Lowey
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Marchant
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McKeon
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (PA)
     Pickering
     Poe
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (TX)
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Upton
     Walberg
     Walsh (NY)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (SC)
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                               NOES--286

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Akin
     Alexander
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Bachmann
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bartlett (MD)
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blumenauer
     Bordallo
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boustany
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Butterfield
     Cannon
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castle
     Castor
     Chandler
     Christensen
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Lincoln
     Davis, Tom
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doolittle
     Doyle
     Drake
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Farr
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Flake
     Fortenberry
     Frank (MA)
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hall (TX)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Klein (FL)
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lucas
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Norton
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Petri
     Pitts
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rodriguez
     Rogers (AL)
     Rohrabacher
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sali
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shadegg
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuler
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Souder
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Terry
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walden (OR)
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Wexler
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (OH)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--14

     Brady (PA)
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Engel
     Faleomavaega
     Fattah
     Gillibrand
     Hunter
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lampson
     McMorris Rodgers
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Tancredo


                  Announcement by the Acting Chairman

  The Acting CHAIRMAN (during the vote). Members are advised there are 
2 minutes remaining in this vote.

                              {time}  1803

  Mr. CAPUANO changed his vote from ``aye'' to ``no.''
  So the amendment was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  Stated against:
  Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, during rollcall vote No. 280 on H.R. 1429, 
I mistakenly recorded my vote as ``aye'' when I should have voted 
``no.'' I ask unanimous consent that my statement appear in the Record 
immediately following rollcall vote No. 280.


                 Amendment No. 7 Offered by Mr. Putnam

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The unfinished business is the demand for a 
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Florida 
(Mr. Putnam) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which 
the noes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. This will be a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 161, 
noes 262, not voting 14, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 281]

                               AYES--161

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Bilbray
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boustany
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carter
     Chabot
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Deal (GA)

[[Page H4374]]


     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Everett
     Fallin
     Feeney
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Granger
     Hall (TX)
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hulshof
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Jindal
     Johnson, Sam
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Lamborn
     Latham
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Mahoney (FL)
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McKeon
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (PA)
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Poe
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Upton
     Walberg
     Walsh (NY)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                               NOES--262

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Bordallo
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castle
     Castor
     Chandler
     Christensen
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Lincoln
     Davis, Tom
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Faleomavaega
     Farr
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Frank (MA)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Graves
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (NY)
     Klein (FL)
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     LaTourette
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lynch
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Norton
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Petri
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Reyes
     Rodriguez
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shuler
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walden (OR)
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Wexler
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (OH)
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--14

     Bilirakis
     Brady (PA)
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Engel
     Fattah
     Gillibrand
     Hunter
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lampson
     McMorris Rodgers
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Tancredo


                  Announcement by the Acting Chairman.

  The Acting CHAIRMAN (during the vote). Members are advised that 2 
minutes remain in this vote.

                              {time}  1811

  Mrs. JONES of Ohio and Mr. HILL changed their vote from ``aye'' to 
``no.''
  So the amendment was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.


                Amendment No. 9 Offered by Mr. Carnahan

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The unfinished business is the demand for a 
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Missouri 
(Mr. Carnahan) on which further proceedings were postponed and on which 
the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. This will be a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 253, 
noes 171, not voting 13, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 282]

                               AYES--253

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Akin
     Alexander
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Bordallo
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Butterfield
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castor
     Chandler
     Christensen
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Lincoln
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Faleomavaega
     Farr
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Frank (MA)
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Green, Al
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (NY)
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Kucinich
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Norton
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Pickering
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Reyes
     Rodriguez
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shuler
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Wilson (OH)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth

                               NOES--171

     Aderholt
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boustany
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Carter
     Castle
     Chabot
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     English (PA)
     Everett
     Fallin
     Feeney
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Granger
     Graves
     Green, Gene
     Hall (TX)
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)

[[Page H4375]]


     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hulshof
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Johnson, Sam
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     Kingston
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kuhl (NY)
     Lamborn
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McKeon
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Moran (KS)
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pitts
     Poe
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Upton
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--13

     Brady (PA)
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Engel
     Fattah
     Gillibrand
     Hunter
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lampson
     McMorris Rodgers
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Tancredo


                  Announcement by the Acting Chairman

  The Acting CHAIRMAN (during the vote). Members are advised that there 
are 2 minutes remaining in this vote.

                              {time}  1820

  So the amendment was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.


                 Amendment No. 11 Offered by Mr. Shuler

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The unfinished business is the demand for a 
recorded vote on the amendment offered by the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. Shuler) on which further proceedings were postponed and 
on which the ayes prevailed by voice vote.
  The Clerk will redesignate the amendment.
  The Clerk redesignated the amendment.


                             Recorded Vote

  The Acting CHAIRMAN. A recorded vote has been demanded.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. This will be a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 229, 
noes 195, not voting 13, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 283]

                               AYES--229

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Bordallo
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castor
     Chandler
     Christensen
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis, Lincoln
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Faleomavaega
     Farr
     Filner
     Frank (MA)
     Giffords
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Johnson (GA)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Kucinich
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Norton
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Pomeroy
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Reyes
     Rodriguez
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shuler
     Sires
     Slaughter
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Wexler
     Wilson (OH)
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth

                               NOES--195

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boustany
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carter
     Castle
     Chabot
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Everett
     Fallin
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fortuno
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gerlach
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Granger
     Graves
     Hall (TX)
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hulshof
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Jindal
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kuhl (NY)
     Lamborn
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     LoBiondo
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Moran (KS)
     Murphy, Tim
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Poe
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Ramstad
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Saxton
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shimkus
     Shuster
     Simpson
     Skelton
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Upton
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                             NOT VOTING--13

     Brady (PA)
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Engel
     Fattah
     Gillibrand
     Hunter
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lampson
     McMorris Rodgers
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Tancredo


                  Announcement by the Acting Chairman

  The Acting CHAIRMAN (during the vote). Members are advised that there 
are 2 minutes remaining on this vote.

                              {time}  1828

  So the amendment was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. The question is on the committee amendment in 
the nature of a substitute, as amended.
  The committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, 
was agreed to.
  The Acting CHAIRMAN. Under the rule, the Committee rises.
  Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr. 
Weiner) having assumed the chair, Mr. Kind, Acting Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union, reported that 
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1429) to 
reauthorize the Head Start Act, to improve program quality, to expand 
access, and for other purposes, pursuant to House Resolution 348, he 
reported the bill back to the House with an amendment adopted by the 
Committee of the Whole.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is 
ordered.
  Is a separate vote demanded on any amendment to the amendment 
reported from the Committee of the Whole?


                         Parliamentary Inquiry

  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his parliamentary 
inquiry.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, isn't it true that under the rules 
adopted by this House, the number of votes

[[Page H4376]]

allowed in the Committee of the Whole is different than the number of 
votes allowed when the House sits?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is correct.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, further parliamentary inquiry.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman will state his inquiry.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. Isn't it further true, Mr. Speaker, that 
because of the rules, any re-vote in the House on an amendment that 
passed in the Committee of the Whole with full participation, the total 
votes cast would be different?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. That is correct.
  Mr. PRICE of Georgia. I thank the Speaker.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. If not, the question is on the amendment.
  The amendment was agreed to.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the engrossment and third 
reading of the bill.
  The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was 
read the third time.

                              {time}  1830


                Motion to Recommit Offered by Mr. McKeon

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I offer a motion to recommit.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the gentleman opposed to the bill?
  Mr. McKEON. I am in its present form.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clerk will report the motion to 
recommit.

  The Clerk read as follows:
       Mr. McKeon moves to recommit the bill (H.R. 1429) to the 
     Committee on Education and Labor with instructions to report 
     the bill back to the House forthwith with the following 
     amendment:
       Page 172, after line 8, insert the following (and make such 
     technical and conforming changes as may be appropriate):

     SEC. 22. OPERATIONAL RULE.

       The Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.) is amended by 
     inserting after section 654 the following:

     ``SEC. 654A. OPERATIONAL RULE.

       ``(a) Religious Organizations Included as Nongovernmental 
     Providers.--For any program carried out under this 
     subchapter, the Federal Government shall consider, on the 
     same basis as other nongovernmental organizations, religious 
     organizations to provide the assistance under the program, so 
     long as the program is implemented in a manner consistent 
     with the Establishment Clause of the first amendment to the 
     Constitution. The Federal Government shall not discriminate 
     in the administration of this subchapter against an 
     organization that provides assistance under, or applies to 
     provide assistance under, this subchapter, on the basis that 
     the organization has a religious character.
       ``(b) Religious Character and Independence.--
       ``(1) In general.--A religious organization that provides 
     assistance under a program described in subsection (a) shall 
     retain its religious character and control over the 
     definition, development, practice, and expression of its 
     religious beliefs.
       ``(2) Additional safeguards.--The Federal Government shall 
     not require a religious organization--
       ``(A) to alter its form of internal governance; or
       ``(B) to remove religious art, icons, scripture, or other 
     symbols;
     in order to be eligible to provide assistance under a program 
     described in subsection (a).
       ``(3) Employment practices.--Section 654 shall not apply to 
     a recipient of financial assistance under this subchapter 
     that is a religious corporation, association, educational 
     institution, or society, with respect to the employment of 
     individuals of a particular religion to perform work 
     connected with the carrying on by such corporation, 
     association, educational institution, or society of its 
     activities. Such recipients shall comply with the other 
     requirements contained in section 654.
       ``(c) Limitations on Use of Funds for Certain Purposes.--No 
     funds provided directly to a religious organization to 
     provide assistance under any program described in subsection 
     (a) shall be expended for sectarian worship, instruction, or 
     proselytization.
       ``(d) Fiscal Accountability.--
       ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), any 
     religious organization providing assistance under any program 
     described in subsection (a) shall be subject to the same 
     regulations as other nongovernmental organizations to account 
     in accord with generally accepted accounting principles for 
     the use of such funds provided under such program.
       ``(2) Limited audit.--Such organization shall segregate 
     government funds provided under such program into a separate 
     account. Only the government funds shall be subject to audit 
     by the government.''.

  Mr. McKEON (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the motion to recommit be considered as read and printed in the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California is recognized 
for 5 minutes in support of his motion.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, because of a flaw in the Federal Head Start 
law, faith-based institutions have been forced to relinquish their 
civil liberties if they choose to participate in the Federal early 
childhood program we are poised to reauthorize today.
  A sham of an amendment adopted earlier today applauded these 
organizations but did nothing to protect faith-based providers' civil 
rights. This motion to recommit does.
  We have had this debate many times before here on the House floor, 
and each time we have had this debate, opponents of faith-based groups' 
federally protected right to maintain their religious nature and 
character through those they hire have equated these civil liberties as 
``discrimination.''
  The 1964 Civil Rights Act makes clear that faith-based groups may 
serve their communities without being forced to give up the right to 
employ individuals who share the tenets and practices of their faith. 
Mr. Speaker, were the authors of the Civil Rights Act pro-
discrimination? No.
  The United States Supreme Court in 1987 unanimously reaffirmed the 
hiring rights for faith-based organizations. Was the Supreme Court pro-
discrimination? No.
  Former President Clinton signed four laws explicitly allowing faith-
based groups to staff on a religious basis when they receive Federal 
funds. Was he pro-discrimination? No.
  The motion to recommit we are considering today is offered in the 
same spirit as the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the 1987 Supreme Court 
decision, and President Clinton's signature on those four bills.
  I commend the gentleman from Puerto Rico (Mr. Fortuno) for offering 
this as an amendment before the Rules Committee yesterday.
  Mr. Speaker, I now yield the balance of my time to Mr. Fortuno.
  Mr. FORTUNO. Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me to speak today on 
the motion to recommit H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act of 2007. 
I must commend Chairmen Miller and Kildee and Ranking Members McKeon 
and Castle for completing work on this important reauthorization.
  This motion to recommit would ensure that, one, religious 
organizations that are participating in the Head Start program are 
allowed to take religion into account in their hiring practices; and, 
two, religious organizations that are participating in the Head Start 
program are not discriminated against on the basis of their religious 
character and are not required to alter their form of governance or 
remove religious art, icons, or scripture or other symbols if they 
decide to participate in the Federal Head Start program.
  Faith-based organizations, such as churches, synagogues and other 
faith-based charities, are a central part of the fabric of communities 
across America. Many of these organizations provide assistance and 
services to the neediest members of society, offering a helping hand to 
the least fortunate among us. Faith-based organizations can make a 
vital contribution to Federal assistance programs and are critical to 
the survival of many communities and to the improvement of the lives of 
countless individuals.
  When faith-based groups hire employees on a religious basis, they are 
exercising their civil rights and liberties. The Civil Rights Act made 
clear when faith-based groups hire employees on a religious basis, it 
is an exercise of the group's civil liberties and does not constitute 
``discrimination'' under Federal law. Faith-based providers who are 
willing to help provide early childhood education and other critical 
social services should not be denied this opportunity.
  Faith-based organizations cannot be expected to sustain their 
religious mission without the ability to employ individuals who share 
the tenets and practices of their faith because it is that faith that 
motivates them to serve their neighbors in trouble. Without the right 
to continue to hire on a religious basis, religious organizations, in 
order to avoid such dangers, are likely to simply withdraw from the

[[Page H4377]]

Federal social service efforts altogether, to the loss of people in 
need everywhere.
  Constitutional protections are included. The motion to recommit 
prohibits funds from being used for worship, instruction, or 
proselytization in keeping with constitutional requirements.
  This motion to recommit does not permit religious organizations to 
refuse to assist individuals on the basis of religion, a religious 
belief, or refusal to participate in a religious practice. The 
nondiscrimination language of the current Head Start statute prevents 
discrimination in the provision of service on the basis of race, creed, 
color, national origin, sex, political affiliation, or beliefs.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I claim time in 
opposition to the motion to recommit.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the 
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Edwards).
  Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Speaker, this motion should be called the 
``religious job discrimination act.''
  As a person of faith who believes strongly in the good work of faith-
based groups, I rise to passionately oppose this ill-advised motion, a 
motion also opposed by the Baptist Joint Committee, the American Jewish 
Committee, the Episcopal Church, and the NAACP.
  Our principle is simple but deeply profound. No American, not one, 
should ever have to pass another American's private religious test to 
qualify for a tax-funded Federal job. Not one American. Mr. Speaker, I 
shouldn't have to pass Mr. McKeon's test if I am applying for a Head 
Start job program, and he should not have to pass my religious test.
  The fact is that no group in America, which would be possible under 
this motion, should be able to accept a $1 million Head Start tax-
funded grant and then literally, with your tax dollars in mind, put up 
a sign that says no Jews nor Catholics need apply here for a federally 
funded job. To do so is morally wrong. To do so is constitutionally 
wrong. No American, no American, not one, should ever have to choose 
between being true to his or her private religious faith and having a 
federally funded, tax-funded job.
  This motion will harm the Head Start program. It will harm the work 
of faith-based groups. Vote ``yes'' for Head Start and ``no'' for this 
motion to recommit.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the 
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Cleaver).
  Mr. CLEAVER. Mr. Speaker, I have been the pastor of the St. James 
United Methodist Church for 33 years. The bishop gives me the authority 
to bring pastors onto our staff, and I discriminate. I have five 
pastors. All of them are Methodists, and they are paid with Methodist 
dollars. Each one of them. They are paid out of the stewardship of the 
church, and I have the right to do that. But I don't have the right to 
accept Federal dollars and discriminate.
  Minorities have come to Washington over the years because this was 
the seat of power and it was believed that if you could get close to 
the seat of power, freedom would be more available. The same thing 
holds true with dollars. People go to work for the Federal Government, 
and if they see dollars going to a Head Start program, they believe 
automatically that there will be no discrimination. And we should not, 
we should not, turn it around now.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott).
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, Don Imus 
provoked a national discussion about race, but that was just talk. If 
we pass this motion, we will take action and turn the clock back before 
1965.
  This amendment doesn't allow faith-based programs to get funded. The 
Shuler amendment that we passed reminds us that faith-based 
organizations can and do sponsor Head Start programs.
  The fact is that any program that can be funded under this amendment 
could be funded anyway if they would agree not to discriminate in 
employment. It has nothing to do with symbols. It is absurd to suggest 
that this has anything to do with symbols. Whatever problem there is 
with symbols is a constitutional problem that cannot be solved with a 
motion to recommit.
  This is all about discrimination. And if you can discriminate based 
on religion, it has racial implications. So since the 1960s, for 40 
years, when you talk about civil liberties, you are talking about the 
victims of discrimination. We decided 40 years ago that it was so 
reprehensible to discriminate in employment that we made it illegal, 
even with your own private money. And today, as we talk about 
discrimination, we ought to think about the victims, not the right of 
the person to discriminate against the victim.
  The present law allows the church to use its own church money, as the 
gentleman from Missouri said, to hire whom they want. But with Federal 
money, just with the Federal money, you have not been able to 
discriminate. So for 40 years, all children in Head Start programs have 
learned that their parents are eligible to be hired by the Head Start 
program regardless of the race or religion of the program. They have 
known that for over 40 years. This amendment will determine what the 
next generation of Head Start students will learn.
  We need to defeat this amendment.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to 
vote against this motion to recommit and not adopt a policy of 
employment discrimination based upon religion.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the motion to recommit.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion to recommit.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the noes appeared to have it.


                             Recorded Vote

  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.
  A recorded vote was ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 and clause 9 of rule 
XX, this 15-minute vote on the motion to recommit will be followed by 
5-minutes votes on passing H.R. 1429, if ordered, and suspending the 
rules and adopting House Resolution 243.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 195, 
noes 222, not voting 16, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 284]

                               AYES--195

     Aderholt
     Akin
     Alexander
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boustany
     Brady (TX)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Burton (IN)
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Carter
     Castle
     Chabot
     Coble
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Crenshaw
     Culberson
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Lincoln
     Davis, Tom
     Deal (GA)
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Doolittle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Duncan
     Ehlers
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Everett
     Fallin
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Flake
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fossella
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gerlach
     Gilchrest
     Gillmor
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Granger
     Hall (TX)
     Hastert
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Hensarling
     Herger
     Hobson
     Hoekstra
     Hulshof
     Inglis (SC)
     Issa
     Jindal
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jones (NC)
     Jordan
     Keller
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Lamborn
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     LoBiondo
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Manzullo
     Marchant
     Marshall
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McHenry
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     Mica
     Miller (FL)
     Miller (MI)
     Miller, Gary
     Moran (KS)
     Murphy, Tim
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Neugebauer
     Nunes
     Pearce
     Pence
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Platts
     Poe
     Porter
     Price (GA)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Ramstad
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reynolds
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Rohrabacher
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Royce
     Ryan (WI)
     Sali
     Saxton
     Schmidt
     Sensenbrenner
     Sessions
     Shadegg
     Shimkus
     Shuler
     Shuster
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Souder
     Stearns
     Sullivan
     Terry
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Turner
     Upton
     Walberg
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)

[[Page H4378]]


     Wamp
     Weldon (FL)
     Weller
     Westmoreland
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                               NOES--222

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Blumenauer
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown, Corrine
     Butterfield
     Capps
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castor
     Chandler
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Edwards
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Farr
     Filner
     Frank (MA)
     Giffords
     Gillibrand
     Gonzalez
     Gordon
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Inslee
     Israel
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Johnson (GA)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Kucinich
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (GA)
     Lipinski
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Markey
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCollum (MN)
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Michaud
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murtha
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pelosi
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Pomeroy
     Price (NC)
     Rahall
     Rangel
     Reyes
     Rodriguez
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Tierney
     Towns
     Udall (NM)
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walz (MN)
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Wexler
     Wilson (OH)
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth

                             NOT VOTING--16

     Brady (PA)
     Capuano
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Engel
     Fattah
     Graves
     Hunter
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lampson
     McMorris Rodgers
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Simpson
     Tancredo
     Udall (CO)


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). Members are advised that 
there are 2 minutes remaining.

                              {time}  1859

  Mr. BACHUS changed his vote from ``no'' to ``aye.''
  So the motion to recommit was rejected.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  Stated against:
  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained and 
unable to be present at the time of the vote on the motion to recommit 
H.R. 1429. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the 
yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. This will be a 5-minute vote.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 365, 
noes 48, not voting 19, as follows:

                             [Roll No. 285]

                               AYES--365

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Alexander
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baldwin
     Barrow
     Bartlett (MD)
     Barton (TX)
     Bean
     Becerra
     Berkley
     Berman
     Berry
     Biggert
     Bilbray
     Bilirakis
     Bishop (GA)
     Bishop (NY)
     Bishop (UT)
     Blackburn
     Blumenauer
     Blunt
     Boehner
     Bonner
     Bono
     Boozman
     Boren
     Boswell
     Boucher
     Boustany
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Brady (TX)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown, Corrine
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Butterfield
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Cannon
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carson
     Castle
     Castor
     Chabot
     Chandler
     Clarke
     Clay
     Cleaver
     Clyburn
     Cohen
     Cole (OK)
     Conaway
     Conyers
     Cooper
     Costa
     Costello
     Courtney
     Cramer
     Crenshaw
     Crowley
     Cuellar
     Cummings
     Davis (AL)
     Davis (CA)
     Davis (IL)
     Davis (KY)
     Davis, David
     Davis, Lincoln
     Davis, Tom
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Doyle
     Drake
     Dreier
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Fallin
     Farr
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fossella
     Frank (MA)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gillibrand
     Gillmor
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Granger
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hall (TX)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastert
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Herger
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hobson
     Hodes
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Inslee
     Israel
     Issa
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Jindal
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Knollenberg
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Marchant
     Markey
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meehan
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Mica
     Michaud
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mitchell
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Nunes
     Oberstar
     Obey
     Olver
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pearce
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Platts
     Pomeroy
     Porter
     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Rodriguez
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothman
     Roybal-Allard
     Ruppersberger
     Rush
     Ryan (OH)
     Ryan (WI)
     Salazar
     Sanchez, Linda T.
     Sanchez, Loretta
     Sarbanes
     Saxton
     Schakowsky
     Schiff
     Schmidt
     Schwartz
     Scott (GA)
     Scott (VA)
     Serrano
     Sessions
     Sestak
     Shays
     Shea-Porter
     Sherman
     Shimkus
     Shuler
     Shuster
     Sires
     Skelton
     Slaughter
     Smith (NE)
     Smith (NJ)
     Smith (TX)
     Smith (WA)
     Snyder
     Solis
     Souder
     Space
     Spratt
     Stark
     Stupak
     Sullivan
     Sutton
     Tanner
     Tauscher
     Taylor
     Terry
     Thompson (CA)
     Thompson (MS)
     Thornberry
     Tiahrt
     Tiberi
     Tierney
     Towns
     Turner
     Udall (CO)
     Udall (NM)
     Upton
     Van Hollen
     Velazquez
     Visclosky
     Walden (OR)
     Walsh (NY)
     Walz (MN)
     Wamp
     Wasserman Schultz
     Waters
     Watson
     Watt
     Waxman
     Weiner
     Welch (VT)
     Weller
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (OH)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                                NOES--48

     Akin
     Bachmann
     Baker
     Barrett (SC)
     Burton (IN)
     Campbell (CA)
     Cantor
     Carter
     Coble
     Culberson
     Deal (GA)
     Doolittle
     Duncan
     Feeney
     Flake
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Garrett (NJ)
     Gingrey
     Hensarling
     Hoekstra
     Inglis (SC)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jordan
     King (IA)
     Kline (MN)
     Lamborn
     Linder
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Mack
     Manzullo
     McHenry
     Miller (FL)
     Miller, Gary
     Neugebauer
     Pence
     Pitts
     Poe
     Radanovich
     Rohrabacher
     Royce
     Sali
     Sensenbrenner
     Shadegg
     Stearns
     Walberg
     Weldon (FL)
     Westmoreland

                             NOT VOTING--19

     Brady (PA)
     Cubin
     Davis, Jo Ann
     Delahunt
     Engel
     Everett
     Fattah
     Graves
     Hunter
     Johnson, E. B.
     Lampson
     Marshall
     McCrery
     McMorris Rodgers
     Ortiz
     Paul
     Price (GA)
     Simpson
     Tancredo


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). Members are advised 2 
minutes remain in this vote.

                              {time}  1906

  So the bill was passed.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

[[Page H4379]]

  Stated for:
  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 285 I was unavoidably 
detained. Had I been present, I would have voted ``aye.''

                          ____________________