[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 65 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1022]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          INTRODUCTION OF THE ``PREPARE ALL KIDS ACT'' OF 2009

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                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 30, 2009

  Mrs. MALONEY. Madam Speaker, today, I am pleased to introduce the 
``Prepare All Kids Act,'' which would assist states in providing at 
least one year of high quality pre-kindergarten to children. The plan 
calls for a new federal investment to be accompanied by matching funds 
from the states.
  Introduced in the Senate by my colleague on the Joint Economic 
Committee, Sen. Casey of Pennsylvania, I am happy to be introducing 
this House companion bill along with original cosponsors Reps. 
Schwartz, Fattah, Hinchey, and Hirono.
  President Obama has made the expansion of high quality early 
education programs a major pillar of his educational reform agenda--and 
for good reason. Decades of research and data have proven the enormous 
benefits of investing in high quality early childhood development and 
education programs, such as higher high school graduation rates, lower 
need for special education, and lower rates of teen pregnancy, criminal 
activity, and dependence on public assistance programs. In fact, for 
every $1 invested in high quality early education, the nation saves up 
to $17 due to lower crime and decreased welfare and other entitlement 
spending.
  Clearly, children are our Nation's greatest resource. The ``Prepare 
All Kids Act'' is not only the right thing to do for our children; it's 
a wise investment in our future.

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