[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 31 (Thursday, March 3, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H1557]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   EARLY EDUCATION VITAL FOR CHILDREN

  (Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Speaker, on Monday, I met with parents of 
young children in Davie, Florida, in my district who attend early 
childhood education classes at Crayons Child Care. We spoke about how 
vital early education is in the development of young children; how 
early education increases high school graduation rates; how 50 years of 
solid research has shown that early childhood education reduces crimes 
and delinquency and yields up to a $7 return on every dollar invested.
  Unfortunately, though, with the passage of H.R. 1 just over a week 
ago, this body made the largest cut to education in our Nation's 
history. Now, we all understand that our Nation needs to cut spending; 
but the society that balances its budgets on the back of its children 
should not be surprised when the spine of its future is broken. These 
children are 2, 3, and 4 years old, but the response from Republicans 
in the House of Representatives is that they would pay for it. That 
just doesn't make sense. It is morally wrong.

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