[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 80 (Thursday, May 11, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1621-S1622]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               HEAD START

  Mr. KELLY. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize the work of the 
Head Start providers and programs across the United States as the 
National Head Start Association gathers in Phoenix, AZ, for its 50th 
annual conference.
  Since 1965, more than 37 million Americans have relied on Head Start 
to provide high-quality early childhood education programming to 
families in need. Head Start programs operate in all 50 States through 
a variety of models, serving families from before birth to age 5 in 
Early Head Start and Head Start. But it is not just children who reap 
the benefits of a Head Start program. Parents and families are an 
integral part of Head Start, whether by

[[Page S1622]]

volunteering in a classroom, participating in educational programming, 
or even embarking on a career in early childhood education through Head 
Start, which is happening in Arizona.
  Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to meet with an Arizona Head 
Start parent in my office, along with staff and administrators from our 
State. Being a new grandfather made it even more meaningful to me to 
hear the appreciation in the voice of the parent as she described the 
economic and educational opportunities Head Start was creating for her 
family. It also made it harder to hear that challenges in finding and 
retaining teachers and staff mean that classrooms are closing and 
hundreds of thousands of children are stuck on waiting lists.
  That is why I am committed to growing Senate support for Head Start. 
I am proud that the most recent appropriations bill included nearly $12 
billion for Head Start, representing a $960 million increase from the 
prior year. With this funding, Head Start staff can get paid closer to 
what they deserve, and more families can gain access to the early 
childhood education that we know makes a long-term difference. But 
there is certainly more to do, and I look forward to working with my 
colleagues to help more children and families succeed.
  To the Head Start providers, staff, and families throughout this 
country: We are with you. Thank you for the work you do every day.

                          ____________________