[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 23]
[House]
[Pages 31414-31422]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 1429, IMPROVING HEAD START FOR SCHOOL 
                         READINESS ACT OF 2007

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 813, I call up 
the conference report on the bill (H.R. 1429) to reauthorize the Head 
Start Act, to improve program quality, to expand access, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Serrano). Pursuant to House Resolution 
813, the conference report is considered read.
  (For conference report and statement, see proceedings of the House of 
November 9, 2007, at page 30775.)
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee) and 
the gentleman from California (Mr. McKeon) each will control 30 
minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I'm pleased to be here today to reauthorize Head Start. 
And I know that everyone agrees that it has been far too long since we 
have authorized the Head Start Act.
  Head Start has served millions of our most vulnerable children and 
families well for 42 years. More recently, Early Head Start has done 
the same for infants and toddlers.
  These are our country's premiere early childhood programs, Mr. 
Speaker. Head Start works, and this bill will make it work even better.
  Nothing is more critical to a child's success than a great teacher, 
and this bill will ensure that by 2013, half of Head Start teachers 
nationwide will have bachelor's degrees. This will improve professional 
development so that teachers can keep up with the best practices in 
early childhood education.
  The bill increases funding for Early Head Start so that children will 
receive comprehensive services during the most critical stages of brain 
development.
  Mr. Speaker, our predecessors 42 years ago initiated Head Start even 
before we realized, as we do today, that early and regular stimulation 
was critical to the very physical development of the brain.
  Head Start requires the Secretary to update early learning standards 
using the best science, and puts an end to the ill-advised National 
Reporting System.
  It authorizes significant increases in resources so that we can 
expand access. And I want to work with our friends on the 
Appropriations Committee to do just that.
  It enhances the quality of Head Start boards, while maintaining a 
shared governance structure that empowers parents.
  And it is especially important to me that the bill prioritizes 
significant resources for Indian and migrant and seasonal Head Start 
programs, both to expand existing programs and create new programs, so 
that these children, whose communities face such terrific challenges, 
can grow up to help their communities overcome those challenges.
  In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman Miller and Senator 
Kennedy, Senator Dodd, Ranking Members McKeon and Castle, and Senator 
Enzi and Senator Alexander, my staff and theirs, and all the conferees 
and their staffs for their hard work. I especially want to thank Lloyd 
Horwich, who has worked so hard with me to produce this bill.
  We do our best work in this Congress when we work in a bipartisan 
way, and we do our best work, especially in education, when we work in 
a bipartisan way. It's been my pleasure through the years to have the 
advantage of working with Mr. McKeon from California. We've grown to 
really commit ourselves to education and we trust one another and like 
one another, which is very important.
  I was privileged, Mr. Speaker, to introduce this bill in March with 
Chairman Miller, Governor Castle, Mr. McKeon and many others, and look 
forward to its becoming law very soon.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Since 1965, the Head Start program has been instrumental in our 
efforts to close the gap between disadvantaged children and their 
peers. This program provides health, developmental and educational 
services to low-income and at-risk children before they enroll in 
school in order to help close the readiness gap. Head Start helps 
establish a foundation for these children's future success.
  This conference report is the product of a bipartisan collaboration 
and compromise. I'd like to thank Chairman Miller, along with Mr. 
Castle and Mr. Kildee. And I appreciate Mr. Kildee's words, and I 
appreciate the opportunity I've had to get to know him and work with 
him closely over the years. I thank them for their work to strengthen 
and improve Head Start.
  I'd also like to acknowledge the staff on both sides for their 
instrumental role in developing this legislation. Their work was 
critical to producing such a strong, widely supported measure. On my 
staff, I'd like to recognize Kirsten Duncan, along with Susan Ross and 
James Bergeron, for their tireless efforts on this legislation.
  Studies have shown that children enrolled in Head Start do make some 
progress. We also know that even greater results are possible.
  With this in mind, the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act 
will strengthen Head Start's academic standards by emphasizing 
cognitive development and the results of scientifically valid research 
in topics critical to children's school readiness. The conference 
report will 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.
  Despite the many successes of the Head Start program, it's reputation

[[Page 31415]]

has, unfortunately, been marred in recent years by instances of 
financial abuse and mismanagement. In communities across the country, 
we've heard reports of taxpayer dollars being squandered. A March 2005 
report from the Government Accountability Office warned the financial 
control system in the Head Start program is flawed and failing to 
prevent multimillion dollar financial abuses that cheat poor children, 
taxpayers and law-abiding Head Start operators.
  This conference report builds on efforts of Republicans in the 109th 
Congress to address weaknesses in the Head Start financial control 
system in order to better protect taxpayers and ensure funds are being 
used to help prepare disadvantaged children for school.
  I'm particularly pleased that the conference report includes strong 
protections to ensure Head Start dollars are not used to pay excessive 
salaries to program executives. The House voted unanimously last week 
to instruct conferees to include clear, unambiguous protections in this 
area. Thanks to that vote, we were able to visit the negotiations and 
agree to even stronger language.

                              {time}  1230

  Mr. Speaker, the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act is a 
solid reauthorization bill built on bipartisan collaboration. Head 
Start is a good program capable of achieving even greater results, and 
the bill before us will help achieve that goal.
  I support passage of this conference report so we can send the bill 
to the President.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Kentucky (Mr. Yarmuth).
  Mr. YARMUTH. I thank my colleague.
  Mr. Speaker, we must acknowledge that America's continued success 
will not be ensured unless we equip the leaders of tomorrow with the 
tools they need today. This means cultivating not just the most 
privileged and brightest students but the students who grow up with 
disadvantages. We must nurture the potential of all our children from 
the very beginning of their lives. We don't have one mind to waste or 
one citizen to waste. We need everyone to have the greatest ability and 
preparation to live productive, meaningful lives in our society.
  For a million students, Head Start is the answer. For those who work 
hard but remain stuck just above the poverty level, the reauthorization 
of this program will give their children a chance to soar. I am proud 
to say that just as we did by increasing the minimum wage, doubling 
college assistance, and providing health care to uninsured children, 
this Congress continues to put working families first.
  With nine in 10 Americans reporting no increase in income the last 6 
years, cynicism has replaced hope for too many. We are in a position to 
restore faith in the future. And as we pass the reins of our Nation to 
future generations, we must invest in that future by guaranteeing every 
child a chance to succeed.
  I know that in my hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, thousands and 
thousands of young children have gotten adequate preparation for 
schooling that they might not otherwise have gotten because of the 
wonderful training they received in Head Start. It is not just a head 
start; it is a very strong foundation to success in education and 
success in whatever careers our young children may select.
  So I'm proud to stand here in the House of Representatives, the 
people's House, and urge my colleagues to support a program which will 
help ensure that the people we represent are able to enjoy the 
prosperity and the happiness that our Founding Fathers hoped they would 
have.
  With that, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting Head Start 
and begin restoring faith in the future for millions of American 
families.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I am happy now to yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Delaware (Mr. Castle), the ranking member on the 
subcommittee and at the same time thank him for the key role he played 
in getting this legislation to this point.
  Mr. CASTLE. I thank the distinguished gentleman from California for 
yielding and for his work on this legislation.
  I do rise to ask my colleague to support this bipartisan conference 
report before us today. Like almost every other Member of this body, I 
believe strongly in the benefits of this program. I trust that the 
conference report on H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start for School 
Readiness Act, will improve Head Start by emphasizing that every child, 
regardless of his or her economic status, should have the best possible 
chance to succeed.
  As Mr. McKeon stated, this report is a byproduct of bipartisan 
collaboration and compromise. I would also like to thank Chairman 
Miller, along with Mr. Kildee and Mr. McKeon, as well as the committee 
staff for their work on Head Start. I see Ms. Woolsey in the room. I 
have worked with her on this issue before, too, and thank her.
  This legislation builds upon efforts made in the past several 
Congresses to address weaknesses in the Head Start program and improves 
upon language contained in the bill to help make the program even 
stronger. Specifically, this report preserves and enhances the vital 
role of parents in ensuring the success of Head Start by establishing 
both a governing body and a policy council, each with specific detailed 
responsibilities. This conference report also maintains the current 
income eligibility requirement to provide services to those who need 
them the most. Additionally, this legislation ensures that curriculum 
and other materials used in Head Start classrooms are based on the 
principles of scientific research and scientifically valid research. 
Equally important, this conference agreement ensures that a greater 
number of Head Start teachers are adequately trained and educated in 
early childhood development, and that applies to Early Head Start as 
well. Finally, consistent with the motion to instruct I introduced last 
week, this conference agreement limits the compensation of a Head Start 
employee to Executive Level II, that of an Assistant Secretary, 
currently $168,000.
  Mr. Speaker, the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act builds 
upon the success of the Head Start program and will assist in having 
the program achieve even greater results. I urge my colleagues to 
support the passage of this conference report.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Davis).
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. I want to thank the gentleman from Michigan 
for yielding and I also want to commend him for introducing this 
legislation, H.R. 1429, the Head Start for School Readiness Act.
  I applaud the leaders in both Chambers for crafting such a strong 
bill that builds on the accomplishments of Head Start and promotes the 
success of young children. It is clear from this product that you and 
your staffs have toiled long and hard to strengthen the quality of the 
Head Start program, and I say to you, well done.
  Foremost, let me thank you for maintaining the role of parents in 
governing Head Start. For more than 40 years, one of the most unique 
and important aspects of the Head Start program has been its emphasis 
on parental involvement. I worked actively with Mr. Souder and Mr. 
Payne, along with 88 other Members of the House, to advocate for 
maintaining this hallmark of equal responsibility for parents in 
governing Head Start.
  I am also pleased that the bill strikes a balance between the House 
and Senate versions on the issue of program eligibility. In high cost-
of-living areas such as Chicago, low-income families can lose access to 
this critical child development program not due to lack of need but 
because we fail to adequately consider the cost of living when 
calculating the poverty level. The conference report grants local 
programs flexibility in opening the eligibility while also requiring 
them to demonstrate the need.
  I am especially grateful that the final report includes so many 
issues near and dear to me, such as recruiting

[[Page 31416]]

minority male teachers, emphasizing children's social and emotional 
well-being, recognition of the expanding role of grandparents and 
kinship caregivers in children's lives, incorporating the best 
practices from the field of home visitation into the Early Head Start 
program, and increasing funds for salaries and education for Head Start 
teachers.
  Finally, 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 on both sides for maintaining this fundamental commitment to 
justice and fairness.
  This bill expands access, improves teacher quality, expands 
accountability, and strengthens school readiness. I am proud to be a 
member of the Education Committee and proud to serve in a Congress that 
will pass this bill into law.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 6 minutes at this time 
to the gentleman from Indiana, a member of the committee (Mr. Souder).
  Mr. SOUDER. I thank our distinguished ranking member.
  I am very supportive of this bill, but I want to share some vague 
uncomfortability with what I think is potentially happening here in 
Head Start, and I think it's very important to clarify for this 
administration and for future administrations what this bill is 
intended to do and not intended to do.
  From the time the Republicans took over in Congress, I remember then 
Subcommittee Chairman Frank Riggs had a number of hearings talking 
about the lack of an academic focus to Head Start. There was a big 
debate about what the original role was, but it was supposed to 
certainly prepare kids who didn't have the same opportunities for their 
ability to be prepared when they started school.
  But there's a reason that Head Start, while it was in the old 
Department of HEW, didn't move with the Department of Education and 
stayed with HHS. If it was intended to be merely another education 
program run by educational bureaucrats, run the same way that every 
other education program was run, it would be over in the Department of 
Education. It wouldn't have been a grassroots Head Start program with 
parent councils that voted and participated and ran it. It would have 
been part of a pre-K program or a kindergarten program run by the 
public schools. Increasingly, we see this pressure where the public 
schools are trying to take over the Head Start program.
  The original origins of the Head Start movement came out of the 
sixties. Saul Alinsky was an organizer in Chicago. The populist 
movement and the community action organizations led to a wave of 
saying, we need programs where local low-income groups are empowered to 
make their own decisions. What this meant many times was it didn't 
exactly meet the professional goals or standards of where the public 
schools thought it should be, necessarily where the professionals in 
Washington thought it should be, but they were engaged at the community 
level, participating in a way that we have tried to reach in 
kindergarten and public schools forever. We can't get low-income 
parents engaged. It's one of the biggest challenges we have. Yet in the 
Head Start program, they were engaged all over the country, whether it 
was rural low income, urban low income. And then when you talk to those 
parents, you say, What's it like when you go to school? Well, they 
don't really want us at the public school. There they want us to do 
fundraisers or they want us to come to back-to-school night. But 
participating in the governance, participating in the organizations was 
different.
  Now, we had wide support in this body, 91 Members, including Mr. 
Davis and Congresswomen Loretta Sanchez and Maxine Waters, myself and 
Ric Keller and many conservatives on the right, who share the concept 
of empowerment. None of us want malfeasance in office or funding 
problems, people who aren't accounting. All of us would like to see 
more professional development. All of us would like to see quantified 
goals. But in this drift towards trying to use the word 
``professional'' all the time, we need to make sure that that doesn't 
lead to an exclusionary concept that basically says, okay, now really 
the white middle class is going to take over and run this program like 
we would like it run.
  The fact is when you get groups of parents and give them votes, 
they're going to make some judgment mistakes. We need to have 
accountability. I am for accountability. We need to have measurement. 
We need to empower those people. But this can't be a typical takeover 
project, because I believe that the major reason Head Start has, in 
fact, worked in communities across the country is it's engaged with the 
people at the grassroots level. And sometimes when we use some of the 
language here, what we really mean is we're going to take it away from 
these people because they're not quite as skilled and that we don't 
quite trust their judgments as much.
  Now, I appreciate that there was a strong compromise to the side of 
parents in the conference committee, that, in fact, the language 
keeping the voting powers to the parents is still there. And it still 
says that in any major decision, they get a vote. It still says that 
when there is a conflict with the other people who are governing this, 
it has to be resolved. There was an additional clause added that seemed 
to potentially demean the parent councils, where it says ``meaningful 
consultation and collaboration.'' Now, that was originally going to 
replace the vote just like we saw in HIDTAs, the High Intensity Drug 
Trafficking Areas, where we tried to have the Federal Government, 
initially in the proposal of the Bush administration, take voting power 
away from sheriffs and local police chiefs and use the same words 
``meaningful consultation and collaboration.'' That is usually a code 
word for we're going to pat you on the head and invite you to an 
occasional meeting but not put you in the decision power.
  What's great about this bill is we left the voting power there and no 
future administration or this one should mistake that the parents still 
have the voting power. Any meaningful decision, they have a right to 
have a vote, and there has to be a resolution with the policy councils. 
This additional language that was Senate language is supplemental and 
did not alter the policy council. Of course, parent councils should be 
a meaningful consultation and collaboration, not just as a ``term'' but 
real meaningful consultation. They should also have the vote.
  I want to thank the leadership on the Democratic side and the 
Republican side in the House and Senate in leaving the real vote to 
parents. It was a huge victory, a grassroots, bipartisan, liberal-
conservative victory that should stand and hopefully will not be undone 
by administrative interpretation.

                              {time}  1245

  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Bishop).
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act.
  I represent part of Suffolk County, New York, where over 20 Head 
Start and three Early Head Start centers have been serving the 
community since 1966. I am also proud to say that my wife's first 
teaching job was as a Head Start teacher, and that she remains today an 
early childhood teacher.
  Parents, teachers, and many of my 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 
success 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 has found that children who attend Head Start enter school 
better prepared than their low-income peers who do not attend the 
program, and that children who do attend Head Start make significant 
learning gains.

[[Page 31417]]

  If we are serious about achieving the goals set forth by NCLB, then 
passing Head Start reauthorization is a down payment on achieving these 
goals.
  I was proud to offer an amendment during the Education and Labor 
Committee's consideration of this bill to 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, as many Head Start programs are being 
forced to choose between providing transportation to children or 
sacrificing the quality of their program. This is a decision that no 
Head Start program should have to make.
  With this amendment, and with 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 Americans.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire as to the time we have left, 
please.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman from California has 19 
minutes. The gentleman from Michigan has 18\1/2\ minutes.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I yield now 3 minutes to the gentlelady from 
California, a member of the committee and a very active worker on this 
bill, Ms. Woolsey.
  Ms. WOOLSEY. I want to thank Chairman Kildee and Chairman Miller and 
Ranking Member McKeon, who was the Chair when we were working on this, 
and Ranking Member Castle for a bipartisan success. We can be proud of 
ourselves today.
  Anyone who has been around small children knows that they're sponges 
for information, they just sop it up if you make it available to them. 
And it's widely accepted that early childhood education is absolutely 
critical to their development and directly tied to their success when 
they get into school, elementary school, and their ongoing future. So 
getting children in a structured classroom environment earlier in their 
young lives provides a critical window of opportunity.
  Head Start provides our Nation's poorest children with a quality 
start that puts them on a level playing field with others when they 
start elementary school. No matter where a child comes from or what his 
or her background is, Head Start provides an equal opportunity to 
succeed by starting with a quality early childhood education. That's 
why I'm glad I'm here today as we authorize Head Start, reaffirming our 
commitment to this valuable program.
  This bill expands access to Head Start, it improves teacher and 
classroom quality, and it strengthens the services children and their 
families receive when they enroll in the program.
  The administration, however, can and should do better when it comes 
to funding. Too many eligible children are still denied an opportunity 
to participate in a Head Start program because there isn't enough 
funds. Well, if this administration wasn't spending $500 billion in 
Iraq, we would have the necessary resources to increase funding to 
allow for program improvement to give every child the Head Start 
experience and to increase teacher quality and salaries. It just 
depends on where we put our priorities.
  Children are 25 percent of our population, Mr. Speaker, but they are 
100 percent of our future. We must provide them with the best possible 
beginning to their lives. So, Mr. Speaker, I look forward to working 
with my colleagues to increase our Nation's commitment to education for 
all of our children and to ensure that Head Start remains the 
successful experience that it is.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I am happy to yield 1 minute to the 
gentleman from Ohio, the Republican leader, former chairman of our 
committee, Mr. Boehner.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, let me thank Mr. McKeon 
for yielding time and take a moment to congratulate Mr. Miller and Mr. 
Kildee, Mr. McKeon and Mr. Castle, the two Republican rankers on the 
committee, for a job well done.
  We have been at this reauthorization for a number of years, and I 
think that the work that is represented in this reauthorization of Head 
Start is very important for our Nation's children.
  Those of us who have worked in the area of education for a long time 
know that for low-income children, having some type of early childhood 
development is critically important to their success. Head Start is 
among a number of programs, both public and private, that are out there 
that supply this type of early childhood development for these 
children. The reforms that are included in this bill I think are 
critically important so that Head Start can really be all that many of 
us want it to be.
  There are some tremendous Head Start programs around the country, I 
have visited a number of them, but there are also some programs that 
don't fulfill the promise that we're making to parents and to their 
children of what this program could be.
  We all know that if we're serious about educating all of America's 
kids, we will never get there unless we find a way to help low-income 
children get the development they need that many of us take for 
granted, things that happen in our homes, for those who have means, 
things that happen in our communities that these children are not 
exposed to. And so to make sure that they do have an equal chance to 
get a good education, that early childhood development for these 3- and 
4-year-olds is very, very important.
  I do want to congratulate my colleagues for the bipartisan way this 
bill has come together. This is a great example of what Congress can do 
in a bipartisan way when it chooses to.
  I have been on the floor a lot this year, being critical of the fact 
that there was some partisan bill on the floor of the House that was 
going nowhere. But here is an example of Members on both sides of the 
aisle working together for the interests of America's low-income kids, 
and I just wanted to come to the floor and say, job well done.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, first of all, I appreciate the very kind 
words of the Republican leader and my former Chair on this committee. 
His work through the years on this bill has been very, very helpful.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McKEON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the remainder of my time.
  I am pleased to be here in support of a conference report that will 
make Head Start even stronger. 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. The 
bipartisan support we've seen 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're going to strengthen academic 
standards by emphasizing cognitive development using scientifically 
valid research, improve teacher quality by ensuring more Head Start 
teachers have degrees and are adequately trained in early childhood 
development, increase financial disclosure requirements by Head Start 
operators as custodians of Federal Head Start grants, and require local 
governance boards to actively oversee grantees. These are commonsense 
reforms that I wholeheartedly support.
  I would like to join the Republican leader and my other colleagues 
who have spoken here today in commenting on the bipartisanship with 
which this bill was brought to this point. It's one that the President 
will sign. It's one that will bring good reforms to a good program.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this conference report.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank Mr. McKeon, Mr. Castle, and 
all those on the other side of the aisle who have worked so hard on 
this bill to produce a very good bill. I also want to thank Ruth 
Friedman, with Chairman Miller, for her tireless work on this bill over 
the last 5 years.
  Mr. Speaker, America can watch this Congress at work today on this 
bill, Head Start, and feel good about its

[[Page 31418]]

Congress, and that's very important. This process in working on Head 
Start has shown Congress at its best, and I think we owe that to the 
American people. And we can feel a certain pride in having demonstrated 
to the American people what Congress can do. This is one of our better 
days, one of our better bills, and it's been a process that we've 
enjoyed. We've had differences. We resolved those differences. We 
produced a very good bill.
  And people do make a difference. People in this Congress make a 
difference. And I want to especially, again, commend my friend, my 
colleague, Mr. McKeon from California, who has worked tirelessly on 
this bill. This bill is better because of his input.
  Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
Improving Head Start Act of 2007 Conference Report.
  In 1964, President Lyndon Johnson laid out his domestic agenda, one 
that made Americans reevaluate what it means to be a Great Society. We 
learned much from that time in our Nation's rich history: That we must 
all fight together for civil rights, for equality, for peace and 
security, against poverty, and for future generations.
  One year later, the Head Start program began as a product of Lyndon 
Johnson's vision of a Great Society. Now, over 40 years later, Head 
Start is truly one of our Nation's most successful programs.
  Head Start takes a holistic approach to ensuring that our country's 
most at-risk children are educated and healthy. Kids who are vibrant 
and in school are put on a path to success. The program provides grants 
to local public and private agencies to offer comprehensive child 
development services to disadvantaged children and families.
  I want to thank Chairman Miller and Chairman Kildee and all of the 
conferees for their important work on this conference agreement.
  I am glad to see that this agreement authorizes 7.35 billion dollars 
for the program. Unfortunately, a number of residents in my hometown of 
Sacramento are eligible for enrollment in Head Start, but are currently 
on a waiting list because the program does not have enough funds. This 
funding authorization will help correct this urgent problem. It will 
help put Head Start back on track to ensuring that all eligible 
children will be able to participate in the program.
  Also important is the expansion of the Early Head Start program. This 
program serves low-income youth from birth to age 3. It puts special 
focus on helping preschoolers develop the early reading and math skills 
they need to be successful in school. It recognizes that starting our 
children's education early is crucial to their long-term achievement.
  The Conference Report also includes an increase in income 
eligibility. This is especially important in California due to my 
State's high cost-of-living. I want to thank the conferees for 
recognizing the growing needs in communities across the Nation by 
increasing income eligibility.
  Study after study confirms that early education is the key to success 
later in life. And I am glad that Leadership has made educating our 
children a priority. With passage of this bill today, the 110th 
Congress indeed becomes the Children's Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, no child should be without early education. The Head 
Start program provides access to education for all of our children, 
regardless of their parents' economic status.
  As Lyndon Johnson said, ``The purpose of protecting the life of our 
Nation and preserving the liberty of our citizens is to pursue the 
happiness of our people. Our success in that pursuit is the test of our 
success as a Nation.''
  I believe that reauthorizing the Head Start program reaffirms our 
commitment to the Great Society that Lyndon Johnson envisioned. I am 
proud to support the rule and the Head Start Improvement Act.
  Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. Mr. Speaker, more than 40 years ago, 
we recognized that poverty was robbing millions of children of the 
opportunity to do well in school and succeed in life.
  As a Nation, we made a decision to help poor children reach school 
age ready to succeed by creating the Head Start early childhood 
program.
  In the last 4 decades, it has helped nearly 25 million children by 
providing them with high-quality, comprehensive education, health, and 
nutrition services.
  Head Start remains a cornerstone in this country's efforts to help 
all children learn, to combat poverty, and to provide all Americans 
with the opportunity to meet their fullest potential.
  We know that Head Start works. Research shows that not only do Head 
Start students make important educational gains while they attend the 
program, they also continue to gain ground after they leave Head Start.
  Research shows that by the end of kindergarten, Head Start graduates 
are ``essentially at national norms in early reading and writing'' and 
have further narrowed the achievement gap in vocabulary, general 
knowledge and early math.
  In other words, Head Start is doing what we expect and demand that it 
should do--help prepare children to succeed in school and in life.
  We also know that there are ways we can improve Head Start.
  That is why I am so pleased to be here today with a bipartisan 
conference report to reauthorize and reinvigorate Head Start.
  This bipartisan legislation improves teacher and classroom quality, 
expands access to Head Start for more children, improves comprehensive 
services that help children and their families, and ensures that 
taxpayer dollars only fund Head Start centers that are well-run and 
high quality.
  First, this legislation builds on Head Start's success by integrating 
the best available science on child development to inform classroom 
instruction.
  Each year we learn more and more about how children's brains develop. 
This legislation ensures that we improve teacher quality and update 
classroom practices based on what the research tells us.
  It requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to re-evaluate 
and update early learning standards and use of assessments with the 
best available science, including a forthcoming study from the National 
Academy of Sciences.
  And it terminates further use of an inappropriate and ineffective 
testing regime for 4-year-olds. This wasteful testing regime cost 
taxpayers over $25 million dollars, it took up valuable classroom time 
and hasn't been useful for improving program quality.
  Of course, Head Start is much more than an educational program. Head 
Start provides health, nutrition and parent education services in 
addition to a strong educational curriculum.
  The conference report recognizes this by also strengthening Head 
Start's role in meeting these important needs of the children it 
serves.
  This legislation takes important steps to ensure that Head Start 
centers are well-run and effectively managed. This will ensure that 
taxpayer dollars are used wisely and that every Head Start center is 
high quality.
  The report allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to more 
quickly take funding away from bad programs. It requires that new and 
detailed fiscal management protocols be included in program reviews.
  Finally, the legislation also expands access to Head Start in many 
important ways.
  Expansion of Early Head Start is prioritized so more infants and 
toddlers can attend Head Start during the years their brains are 
growing the fastest.
  And expansion of Migrant and Indian programs is prioritized so more 
of these children can have access to this important program.
  Mr. Speaker, before I close, I'd like to take a minute to thank 
Congressman McKeon, Chairman Kildee, Congressman Castle, Chairman 
Kennedy, Senator Enzi, Senator Dodd, and Senator Alexander for their 
hard work in getting us to this point.
  I'd also like to thank the staff for their work and expertise.
  In particular, I'd like to thank Liz King and Jean Harmann with 
Legislative Counsel; Lloyd Horwich with Mr. Kildee; James Bergeron, 
Susan Ross, Kirsten Duncan, and Jessica Gross with Mr. McKeon and Mr. 
Castle; Roberto Rodriguez and David Johns with Senator Kennedy; 
Catherine Hildum with Senator Dodd; Lindsay Hunsicker and Beth 
Buehlmann with Senator Enzi; David Cleary and Sara Rittling with 
Senator Alexander; and from my own staff--Lamont Ivey, Molly Carter, 
Kate Scully, Stephanie Moore, and Ruth Friedman.
  This bill will build on Head Start's past successes to create an even 
stronger program to provide Head Start children with a better future.
  I am pleased that we are about to send this legislation to the 
President for his signature.
  I thank my colleagues for their efforts.
  Mr. EHLERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Head Start 
conference report and I thank Representatives McKeon, Castle, Miller 
and Kildee for their work on producing an agreement with the Senate.
  For several years, I have worked to improve Head Start's academic and 
Migrant and Seasonal Head Start provisions.
  For thousands of children, Head Start serves as their first formal 
learning experience. Three- and four-year-olds are open to

[[Page 31419]]

learning about the world around them, and they should be presented with 
a wide range of early academic concepts. I am very pleased that this 
conference agreement includes provisions to ensure that these children 
are exposed to math and science. I certainly do not intend for Head 
Start to teach ``rocket science,'' but rather for its teachers to equip 
Head Start preschoolers with the extremely basic concepts of math and 
science. Perhaps it will spark the imagination of some kids, and lay 
the foundation for them to become rocket scientists many years later.
  With regard to Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, I joined with 
Representatives Grijalva, Hinojosa and Sanchez in securing a 5 percent 
funding floor for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start in the House version 
of the bill. For far too long, funding for Migrant and Seasonal Head 
Start has lacked parity with other Head Start programs. I am 
disappointed that the conference report abandoned the House- and 
Senate-passed 5 percent floor, but I recognize the difficulty conferees 
had in finding a workable formula. I hope that Members will join me in 
supporting funding for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start in the future 
since it is a sorely needed program for workers of our fields and their 
children.
  I urge Members to support the conference report.
  Mr. MARKEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this conference report.
  Let me start by commending the chairman of the subcommittee, the 
distinguished gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Kildee, and the chairman of 
the full committee, the gentleman from California, Mr. Miller for their 
work on this bill. I offer my thanks to the House and Senate conferees 
for bringing forth this important piece of legislation today.
  In 1965, with a great deal of hard work, Head Start was created. It 
soon became a ``legislative Lamborghini'' of social programs, going 
from 0 to 561,000 thousand participants in only a few months. In the 42 
years since its inception, Head Start has become the educational 
foundation for more than 20 million American children.
  Education serves as both a ladder of opportunity and an investment in 
our future. Our Nation's security, economy, and position in the world 
all depend on the success of our education system. We must take 
advantage of this opportunity to fund our future.
  Head Start and Early Head Start are linchpins in the effort to 
prepare our country's most disadvantaged children to succeed in school 
and life. Many studies indicate that children enrolled in Head Start 
make significant progress in closing the readiness gap to their more 
advantaged peers as they enter kindergarten.
  The congressionally mandated impact study recently published its 
results, which noted that after less than 1 year in the program, 
children in Head Start had narrowed the readiness gap by 45 percent in 
reading skills and 28 percent in writing skills. This momentum 
continues well beyond the ages of 3, 4, and 5, as another large 
academic study has noted that Head Start graduates continue to mount 
academic gains well after leaving the program.
  The bill we see before us today helps to raise the academic standards 
of American children and ensures that every child in our country has an 
equal opportunity to a high quality education. It aims to improve 
teacher quality by requiring a greater number of Head Start teachers to 
have a bachelor's degree and be adequately trained in early childhood 
development. This is clearly good news for the children that will be 
participating in Head Start in the future.
  On multiple occasions, the President has advocated that all 3- and 4-
year-old participants in Head Start should take standardized tests to 
assess their improvement. For President Bush, No Child Left Behind 
means no child left untested. I am happy that this conference report 
terminates the further use of the National Reporting System, an 
inappropriate, ineffective, and expensive testing regime.
  This conference report notes that Head Start is not without the 
opportunity for evaluation, however, and there is strengthened program 
accountability at the Federal, regional, and local levels included in 
the legislation. The report also requires the U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services to initiate classroom evaluations, thereby ensuring 
optimal teacher-child interactions.
  We have known for some time that when children are not provided high-
quality day care and early childhood services, once in school, their 
academic achievement and limited language proficiencies become 
cumulatively worse over time, over grade levels, and across all subject 
areas. By passing this conference report, we build on the past 42 years 
of success for this program and help ensure that both Head Start 
children as well as our Nation as a whole have a brighter tomorrow.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I supported this measure as a member of 
the conference committee that drafted the final version of the bill. 
I'm proud to have served on the committee of House and Senate leaders 
that negotiated the final version of this legislation. This important 
bill will help prepare Louisiana's neediest children for kindergarten 
by improving their access to medical, nutritional, and educational 
services.
  Mr. GENE GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, Head Start is a critical part 
of this country's effort to combat the effects of poverty and ensure 
that all of our children have the opportunity and skills they need to 
thrive.
  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.
  Study after study demonstrates that by age 6, a child's capacity to 
learn is largely formed, and time after time, we have seen reports that 
prove students who attend Head Start perform better than those who 
don't.
  By doing this, Head Start is helping to close the achievement gap 
between students of differing socio-economic status across our country, 
and helping the children in our communities by providing opportunities 
that they might not otherwise have.
  Additionally, people often forget the wonderful things that this 
program does for the parents.
  The key to Head Start's approach is its level of actively involving 
parents and the community in all aspects of the program--and this 
reauthorization would further this goal.
  Parents are a child's first teachers, and Head Start helps build and 
foster a person's parenting skills in various ways.
  Parents are also urged to improve their literacy skills, obtain adult 
basic education, and make their homes a place where reading is part of 
everyday life.
  Head Start also tackles a wide range of poverty issues through its 
family and community partnerships, including: Substance abuse, 
violence, HIV, homelessness, single-parent households, inadequate child 
care, unemployment, and numerous other stressors that challenge 
families' resources.
  This program is clearly instrumental to our country.
  The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007 will 
reinvigorate Head Start and help more children arrive at kindergarten 
ready to succeed.
  I urge my colleagues to support this report.
  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act, to strengthen and expand 
Head Start programs across the country.
  Last Spring, we held a National Summit on America's Children here at 
the Capitol. We heard from leading experts on child development and 
neuroscience, who emphasized the vital importance of early childhood 
education. Early interventions can dramatically increase a child's 
chances for future success.
  Head Start is based on this idea and it works. For more than 40 
years, it has been helping to close the achievement gap and teach our 
children that they can succeed, regardless of background or family 
income. More than 20 million children and families have benefited from 
its services. With this bill today, we will open the door to more 
children to enter both Head Start and Early Head Start and will ensure 
that they are better prepared for kindergarten and elementary school.
  Today's bill also recognizes the importance of early childhood 
educators, targeting new funding to improve teacher salaries and 
professional development. It ensures that teachers are highly qualified 
and able to meet the needs of children with disabilities and improves 
accountability for Head Start programs.
  I also urge my colleagues to support the funding necessary to 
continue Head Start's success. Last week, we sent the President a bill 
increasing Head Start funding by 2.2 percent to simply help it keep 
pace with inflation. The President vetoed this funding. I encourage my 
colleagues to vote to override the President's veto to prevent Head 
Start program closures and ensure that children get the services they 
were promised.
  I thank Chairman Miller, Chairman Kildee, and the Conference 
Committee for putting together this bipartisan piece of legislation, 
and urge its passage today.
  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
the conference report on H.R. 1429, the Head Start for School Readiness 
Act.
  As a member of the Education and Workforce Committee for 6 years, I 
was pleased to have the opportunity to work on this important issue. 
While visiting Head Start centers in the

[[Page 31420]]

Fourth District, I was able to see firsthand the difference Head Start 
makes to children and families. In addition, the Federal Reserve Bank 
of Minneapolis published a study in 2004 showing that investment in 
early education has a rate of return of 12 percent. Even with all the 
evidence showing the social, educational and economic value of this 
program, the Republican-controlled Congress was unable to pass an 
acceptable bill.
  Thanks to the hard work of Chairman Miller and Speaker Pelosi, the 
bill before us today is a bipartisan, bicameral agreement that does 
what earlier reauthorization bills did not--it focuses on preparing 
children for school. This agreement includes an increased emphasis on 
teacher quality and compensation, maintains parent involvement in the 
governing structure of Head Start, and increases coordination with 
other early childhood programs. It also maintains Head Start's 
commitment to comprehensive services and places greater emphasis on 
identification of child and family mental health needs.
  H.R. 1429 terminates the inappropriate high stakes testing system for 
Head Start students implemented by the Bush Administration and replaces 
it with best practices for early learning. It also strengthens 
monitoring of Head Start programs, allows quicker action against 
failing or fraudulent programs and rejects a proposal to allow 
discrimination in hiring with Head Start funds.
  Congress still faces the critical issue of providing enough resources 
to Head Start to serve all the children who are eligible to 
participate. The Head Start for School Readiness Act authorizes 
increased funding, as well as some flexibility in funding, to allow 
more children to access this important education. As a member of the 
Appropriations Committee, I will continue to work towards improving our 
investment in children, families and communities.
  I am pleased to vote in support of H.R. 1429 because this bill will 
make a real difference in the lives of children and families, and for 
our economy. I urge all my colleagues to support this investment in our 
future.
  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the conference 
report on H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act. 
This bipartisan legislation provides services to one of our most 
vulnerable populations--children from low-income families. By passing 
this measure today, over 900,000 disadvantaged children ages 3 to 5--
including over 3,000 in Rhode Island--will have access to health 
services, the necessary tools to enter kindergarten, and a foundation 
for their success later in life.
  Studies show that low-income children often lack the richness of 
books in the home, proper nutrition, or access to a continuum of health 
services. For over 40 years, Head Start has provided comprehensive 
early childhood development services to low-income children, with 
strong emphasis on the involvement of families and the local community. 
H.R. 1429 would increase funding for quality improvements to Head Start 
and requires that by 2013 at least half of Head Start teachers 
nationwide have at least a baccalaureate degree in early childhood 
education.
  Today, half of the children enrolled in Head Start are from working 
poor families. For this reason, I am pleased that this conference 
agreement increases the income eligibility to 130 percent of the 
poverty level so that families struggling with work and childcare will 
have another option. I also believe that stopping the program's 
National Reporting System is essential until proper testing methods for 
these young children are carefully developed. H.R. 1429 also 
establishes a set of procedures to improve accountability in the Head 
Start program, which will lead to improvements for all those served by 
Head Start.
  Earlier in the year, H.R. 1429 passed both the House and the Senate 
with overwhelming support. I am proud that the 110th Congress is on the 
verge of passing this conference report after nearly a decade of 
failing to reauthorize Head Start. For all the children who benefit 
from this program, I look forward to sending this bill to the President 
for his signature.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the conference 
report for H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start for School Readiness 
Act. Since 1965, Head Start has provided 22 million American children 
with the education and health and social services to lead productive 
lives. It is the most successful school readiness program in the Nation 
and has always enjoyed bipartisan support.
  Today, we are continuing this tradition by passing strong bipartisan 
legislation to reauthorize this vital program. In fact, this 
legislation marks the first time in almost a decade that Congress has 
reauthorized Head Start.
  The Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act will invest in 
America's future by providing children and their teachers with the 
resources they need to take advantage of the opportunities that the 
Head Start program has offered America's youth for over 40 years.
  In addition to providing additional resources for increasing 
teachers' salaries and State Advisory Councils, this reauthorization 
will expand the reach of both Head Start and Early Head Start by 
providing greater funding and flexibility. The increases in funding 
will enable tens of thousands more children to have access to the 
program. H.R. 1429 will also improve Head Start by providing the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services and local teams with tools to 
hold teachers and programs accountable and requires the implementation 
of best practices for family service workers. Head Start has served 
America's children well since 1965, and this legislation will expand 
the reach and ability of this program to positively impact lives across 
the country.
  I want to thank Chairman Miller for his dedication to Head Start and 
to education in general. Head Start is an investment in America's 
future. Thanks to Head Start, we can give our children the best start 
possible so they can lead productive lives and grow up to be 
outstanding citizens. I am proud to support these efforts to continue 
the legacy of Head Start, and I urge all of my colleagues to join me in 
voting for H.R. 1429.
  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the 
Conference Report on H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start for School 
Readiness Act of 2007. This bipartisan legislation takes significant 
steps to strengthen the Head Start program so that children will be 
better prepared and ready to succeed when they begin kindergarten. H.R. 
1429 increases funds targeted at improving teacher quality and provides 
additional support for the program's extensive monitoring process and 
the comprehensive services offered to the students' families. In 
addition, it expands access to Head Start for more children, increases 
coordination efforts with State and local programs, and eliminates any 
further development of the controversial and ineffective National 
Reporting System.
  For over 40 years, the Head Start program has worked to break the 
cycle of poverty by providing access to early childhood education for 
low-income children and families. In the House budget for FY 2008, the 
State of Texas is estimated to receive approximately $490 million in 
Head Start funding which will go towards providing services for over 
68,000 students. Since it first began in 1965, the program has served 
more than 20 million children, and it continues to play a major role in 
our Nation's efforts to close the achievement gap, reduce poverty, and 
ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to succeed.
  Studies have shown that students with a high quality pre-Kindergarten 
education enjoy greater success in academics as well as their overall 
lives. The Head Start program goes a long way in addressing educational 
inequity by aiding low income children in their social and cognitive 
development. I am a firm supporter of this program and the lifelong 
benefits it provides. It is only by addressing this critical need that 
we will be able to ensure a better future for all our Nation's 
children.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, Head Start has been the premiere early 
childhood education program in the United States since 1965. Since that 
time, it has benefited 20 million children and families and has become 
one of the cornerstones of this country's efforts to close the 
achievement gap, combat poverty, and provide all Americans with the 
opportunity to thrive. By passing the conference report to H.R. 1429, 
the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, we will 
reinvigorate Head Start and help more children arrive at kindergarten 
ready to succeed.
  The fact is that quality education and early engagement, from both 
parents and teachers, are essential for our kids' success. Recent 
findings from the congressionally mandated impact study found that 
after less than 1 year, Head Start narrowed the achievement gap by 45 
percent in pre-reading skills and 28 percent in prewriting skills. 
Another large study found that Head Start graduates continue to gain 
ground after they leave the program. Furthermore, Head Start graduates 
are less likely to need special education services, to be left back a 
grade or to get into trouble with the law. They are more likely to go 
on to college and to have professional careers.
  This bipartisan reauthorization improves teacher and classroom 
quality, strengthens Head Start's focus on school readiness, expands 
access to Head Start for more children, ensures that centers are well-
run, boosts coordination between Head Start and State and local 
programs, and improves comprehensive services that help children by 
helping their families.
  I commend and thank Congressmen Kildee, Castle, and Chairman Miller 
for their leadership on this critical legislation. Head Start has

[[Page 31421]]

proven itself as a strong and effective program. The growth and success 
of millions of American children and families is living proof. We have 
a responsibility to embrace their success, support it, and strengthen 
it for years to come. I know that my colleagues will join me in sending 
this critical reauthorization to ensure the Head Start program meets 
its full potential.
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, as the only former State superintendent 
of schools serving in Congress, I have devoted my life to the well-
being and development of children, and I strongly support Head Start. I 
rise in support of H.R. 1429, the Head Start for School Readiness Act.
  In the global economy of the 21st century, lifelong learning is the 
pathway to the American Dream, and for many of our Nation's children, 
learning begins with Head Start. Over 20,000 children in North Carolina 
get prepared for school in Head Start or Early Head Start.
  This act takes and builds on the success of Head Start, expanding and 
enhancing this fundamental initiative that has served over 20 million 
children and families nationwide since 1965. H.R. 1429 extends the 
benefits of Head Start to more of our Nation's low-income children, and 
raises the bar so that we can attract highly qualified Head Start 
providers through performance accountability, greater compensation, and 
higher standards.
  Research continues to show that the first few years of a child's life 
are critical to a child's mental development: Their brains grow 
exponentially and learning patterns are set. We must invest in these 
youngsters so that they may take full advantage of one of the premier 
education systems in the world by ensuring their school-readiness by 
age 5. Head Start successfully provides the stepping stones to lifelong 
learning.
  This act provides the parents and children of our country an 
additional 4 years of this vital service, guaranteeing a 20 percent 
increase in funding by 2012. Education is the best investment we can 
make for our children, grandchildren, country, and world.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1429 updates, improves, and expands the successful 
services of Head Start. I commend Chairman Miller for his leadership on 
this bipartisan legislation, and I urge my colleagues to join me in 
voting to pass it.
  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the conference report for 
H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act, and I am proud to be a 
cosponsor of H.R. 1429. I would like to thank Chairman Miller for 
producing a bipartisan product of high quality. For almost 40 years, 
Head Start has assisted low-income preschool children and their 
families, establishing a comprehensive early-learning environment and 
addressing a variety of social and medical needs. The program has 
provided services to over 20 million children and their families since 
its inception in 1965. Currently, over 900,000 children are enrolled in 
almost 2,600 local Head Start programs. Children with disabilities make 
up 10 percent of Head Start Children. However, less then 50 percent of 
eligible preschoolers are served by Head Start and 2 percent of 
eligible infants and toddlers are served in Early Head Start.
  In my district, Head Start has been a tremendous success, with over 
1,000 children enrolled in 18 programs. The majority of these children, 
about three-quarters, are from families with incomes below the Federal 
poverty line.
  Head Start's comprehensive medical and social services provide 
important benefits to these children. In my central New Jersey 
district, 91 percent of Head Start children have received basic primary 
health care and 84 percent have a continuous, accessible source of 
dental care. The program has also provided mental health services to 
over 200 children and assisted almost 150 children with disabilities.
  Today's bill provides greater flexibility to serve children whose 
family income is just above the Federal poverty line, up to 130 percent 
of the poverty line, while ensuring that serving the neediest children 
remains the program's top priority.
  The conference report authorizes total funding of $7.99 billion for 
fiscal year 2010 allowing tens of thousands more children access to the 
program. This bill addresses a number of problems that have been 
identified. For example, the bill prioritizes expansion for Early Head 
Start, which serves children from birth to age 3, so more children can 
receive Head Start during the critical development years when their 
brains are growing the fastest. The conference report ensures more 
participation of homeless children by removing barriers to their 
enrollment. The bill enhances opportunities for children with 
disabilities to participate in Head Start programs.
  I am also pleased to report that the bill continues to improve the 
already improving Head Start teacher qualifications. The bill increases 
teacher qualifications so that 50 percent of teachers nationwide must 
have a BA in early childhood education or a related field by 2013.
  Mr. Speaker, I have seen the effects of Head Start in my district. 
Children in Head Start in my district are more likely to receive 
necessary medical services than other low-income children. They are 
nearly three times as likely as other low-income children to receive 
basic medical care and 6 times as likely to receive dental care. This 
bill will allow these benefits to be expanded and improved. I ask my 
colleagues to vote for this important legislation.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without objection, the previous question is 
ordered on the conference report.
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the conference report.
  The question was taken; and the Speaker pro tempore announced that 
the ayes appeared to have it.
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, this 15-
minute vote on adoption of the conference report will be followed by 5-
minute votes on motions to suspend the rules with regard to H.R. 3845 
and H.R. 719.
  The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--yeas 381, 
nays 36, not voting 15, as follows:

                            [Roll No. 1090]

                               YEAS--381

     Abercrombie
     Ackerman
     Aderholt
     Alexander
     Allen
     Altmire
     Andrews
     Arcuri
     Baca
     Bachmann
     Bachus
     Baird
     Baker
     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
     Boyd (FL)
     Boyda (KS)
     Brady (PA)
     Brady (TX)
     Braley (IA)
     Brown (SC)
     Brown, Corrine
     Brown-Waite, Ginny
     Buchanan
     Burgess
     Butterfield
     Buyer
     Calvert
     Camp (MI)
     Cannon
     Cantor
     Capito
     Capps
     Capuano
     Cardoza
     Carnahan
     Carney
     Carter
     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
     Deal (GA)
     DeFazio
     DeGette
     Delahunt
     DeLauro
     Dent
     Diaz-Balart, L.
     Dicks
     Dingell
     Doggett
     Donnelly
     Drake
     Dreier
     Edwards
     Ehlers
     Ellison
     Ellsworth
     Emanuel
     Emerson
     Engel
     English (PA)
     Eshoo
     Etheridge
     Everett
     Fallin
     Farr
     Fattah
     Feeney
     Ferguson
     Filner
     Forbes
     Fortenberry
     Fossella
     Frank (MA)
     Frelinghuysen
     Gallegly
     Gerlach
     Giffords
     Gilchrest
     Gillibrand
     Gingrey
     Gohmert
     Gonzalez
     Goode
     Goodlatte
     Gordon
     Granger
     Graves
     Green, Al
     Green, Gene
     Grijalva
     Gutierrez
     Hall (NY)
     Hall (TX)
     Hare
     Harman
     Hastings (FL)
     Hastings (WA)
     Hayes
     Heller
     Herger
     Herseth Sandlin
     Higgins
     Hill
     Hinchey
     Hinojosa
     Hirono
     Hobson
     Hodes
     Hoekstra
     Holden
     Holt
     Honda
     Hooley
     Hoyer
     Hulshof
     Hunter
     Inslee
     Israel
     Issa
     Jackson (IL)
     Jackson-Lee (TX)
     Jefferson
     Johnson (GA)
     Johnson (IL)
     Johnson, E. B.
     Jones (NC)
     Jones (OH)
     Kagen
     Kanjorski
     Kaptur
     Keller
     Kennedy
     Kildee
     Kilpatrick
     Kind
     King (IA)
     King (NY)
     Kingston
     Kirk
     Klein (FL)
     Kline (MN)
     Knollenberg
     Kucinich
     Kuhl (NY)
     LaHood
     Lampson
     Langevin
     Lantos
     Larsen (WA)
     Larson (CT)
     Latham
     LaTourette
     Lee
     Levin
     Lewis (CA)
     Lewis (GA)
     Lewis (KY)
     Linder
     Lipinski
     LoBiondo
     Loebsack
     Lofgren, Zoe
     Lowey
     Lucas
     Lungren, Daniel E.
     Lynch
     Mahoney (FL)
     Maloney (NY)
     Manzullo
     Markey
     Marshall
     Matheson
     Matsui
     McCarthy (CA)
     McCarthy (NY)
     McCaul (TX)
     McCollum (MN)
     McCotter
     McCrery
     McDermott
     McGovern
     McHugh
     McIntyre
     McKeon
     McMorris Rodgers
     McNerney
     McNulty
     Meek (FL)
     Meeks (NY)
     Melancon
     Mica
     Michaud
     Miller (MI)
     Miller (NC)
     Miller, George
     Mollohan
     Moore (KS)
     Moore (WI)
     Moran (KS)
     Moran (VA)
     Murphy (CT)
     Murphy, Patrick
     Murphy, Tim
     Murtha
     Musgrave
     Myrick
     Nadler
     Napolitano
     Neal (MA)
     Nunes
     Obey
     Olver
     Ortiz
     Pallone
     Pascrell
     Pastor
     Payne
     Pearce
     Perlmutter
     Peterson (MN)
     Peterson (PA)
     Petri
     Pickering
     Pitts
     Pomeroy
     Porter

[[Page 31422]]


     Price (NC)
     Pryce (OH)
     Putnam
     Radanovich
     Rahall
     Ramstad
     Rangel
     Regula
     Rehberg
     Reichert
     Renzi
     Reyes
     Reynolds
     Richardson
     Rodriguez
     Rogers (AL)
     Rogers (KY)
     Rogers (MI)
     Ros-Lehtinen
     Roskam
     Ross
     Rothman
     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 (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
     Tsongas
     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)
     Wexler
     Whitfield
     Wicker
     Wilson (NM)
     Wilson (OH)
     Wilson (SC)
     Wolf
     Woolsey
     Wu
     Wynn
     Yarmuth
     Young (AK)
     Young (FL)

                                NAYS--36

     Akin
     Barrett (SC)
     Broun (GA)
     Burton (IN)
     Campbell (CA)
     Coble
     Culberson
     Doolittle
     Duncan
     Flake
     Foxx
     Franks (AZ)
     Garrett (NJ)
     Hensarling
     Inglis (SC)
     Johnson, Sam
     Jordan
     Lamborn
     Mack
     Marchant
     McHenry
     Miller (FL)
     Miller, Gary
     Neugebauer
     Pence
     Poe
     Price (GA)
     Rohrabacher
     Royce
     Sali
     Shadegg
     Stearns
     Tancredo
     Walberg
     Weldon (FL)
     Westmoreland

                             NOT VOTING--15

     Boustany
     Carson
     Cubin
     Davis, Tom
     Diaz-Balart, M.
     Doyle
     Hastert
     Jindal
     Mitchell
     Oberstar
     Paul
     Platts
     Roybal-Allard
     Sessions
     Weller


                Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (during the vote). Members are advised there 
are 5 minutes remaining in this vote.

                              {time}  1317

  Messrs. POE and HENSARLING changed their vote from ``yea'' to 
``nay.''
  So the conference report was agreed to.
  The result of the vote was announced as above recorded.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
  Stated for:
  Mr. PLATTS. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 1090, I was inadvertently 
absent from the floor at the time the Head Start for School Readiness 
Act [H.R. 1429] was voted. Had I been present, I would have vote in 
favor of said Act.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I was unavoidably detained during rollcall 
vote No. 1090 on H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act. I supported 
this measure as a member of the conference committee that drafted the 
final version of the bill and if I had been able to vote, I would have 
voted ``aye.''

                          ____________________