[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 7389]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HEAD START

  (Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. LORETTA SANCHEZ of California. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to say 
that this week marks the 50-year anniversary of the Head Start program, 
a momentous achievement in our Nation's fight to break the cycle of 
poverty and open the windows of opportunity for low-income families and 
children.
  Now, I don't want to date myself, actually, but I was in the first 
class of Head Start, and today I bring with me my original certificate 
of completion from that program. I am proud to say that, if it were not 
for Head Start, I wouldn't be here today. You see, as the daughter of 
poor immigrants from Mexico, not many people would think I would 
graduate from high school, let alone college, or get my MBA and 
eventually make my way to the House of Representatives.
  Head Start has served over 32 million children, and, more 
importantly, it has helped families know how to navigate the school 
system. My hat is off to the teachers, to the community volunteers, to 
the healthcare coordinators, and to so many who helped to implement 
Head Start programs in their communities. Your work is transforming our 
Nation. It is giving that head start to our children because they are 
the future of this Nation.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I say today, ``Happy birthday, Head Start.''

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