[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16425]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HEAD START AWARENESS MONTH

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I wish to express my appreciation to the 
students, parents, staff, and alumni of the Head Start Program and to 
join them in celebrating Head Start Awareness Month. The dedicated 
individuals at Head Start have served our Nation's most vulnerable 
children and families for 50 years.
  Since its founding in 1965, this program has provided comprehensive 
social and emotional development services to children from birth to age 
5. Because of Head Start, many young parents have been able to get the 
support they need during the crucial first years of their child's life.
  These services go far beyond what any parenting book could ever 
achieve. Head Start staff provides real-life guidance for young parents 
who, for example, may need the name of a local dentist or help finding 
adequate housing to keep their families healthy and safe.
  In Oregon, we have 336 program locations that enrolled more than 
13,000 individuals and families last year. You can find a Head Start 
location anywhere from Clatskanie, OR, all the way to Chiloquin. 
Earlier this month, Clatsop County celebrated Head Start's anniversary 
by holding simultaneous block parties at the county's three locations. 
These Head Start and Early Head Start centers are helping Oregon 
families who want to see their children reach their full potential.
  The Head Start Program fosters literacy and prepares Oregon's 
children for success in school. Early learning through Head Start can 
put children on a path toward high school graduation and a better 
future. In my view, the Head Start Program is a critical investment in 
the development of our Nation's youngest children.
  I speak today to honor those who are working to make a difference for 
our young people at all the Head Start locations in Oregon and across 
the country. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to 
continue to support early childhood education programs like Head Start.

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