[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 130 (Friday, September 27, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H5888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BUDGETING PRIORITIES

  (Mrs. BUSTOS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mrs. BUSTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the impact of 
the ongoing budget debates in Washington and how they are affecting the 
hardworking people that I'm honored to serve in Illinois.
  Last November, the people of the 17th District of Illinois elected me 
because they were sick and tired of the partisan gridlock in Congress. 
I spent a short time here in Congress working across the aisle to find 
commonsense solutions to the problems facing our Nation. But too many 
in Washington have the wrong priorities--putting politics over people. 
Let me just offer one example.
  During the last month, I have visited Head Start programs throughout 
my district. Head Start, as you may know, provides early childhood 
education and is an important downpayment on our region's economic 
well-being. In fact, for every dollar invested in Head Start, we get a 
$7 to $9 return. But due to shortsighted cuts, needy children and 
families are being turned away at the door.
  In the region I serve, there are literally hundreds of children 
waiting to be enrolled in Head Start, while dedicated staff members 
continue to have to cut back. This is unacceptable.
  I am willing to work with those who I disagree with and who disagree 
with me to find reasonable solutions that put people before politics. 
Let's find solutions that put Americans first.

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