[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.
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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.''
____________________