Senate Democrats have chosen a different approach. Their budget resolution includes higher debt reduction, a smaller tax cut, and higher spending on selected priorities like education than does the GOP plan. This analysis compares the alternatives offered by Senate Democrats and Republicans in terms of the impact, in both dollars and persons affected, on important federal programs in 2011, the year in which the Bush tax cut would be fully phased in. The Head Start and Early Head Start programs serve children from birth to age 5, pregnant women, and their families, with the goal of increasing the school readiness of young children in low-income families. Studies show that reducing class sizes in early grades can boost student achievement in later years.
Research shows that teacher quality is a key indicator of student performance.
In many states, the cost of child care now outstrips the cost of attending a public college. The program serves those who have been permanently laid off or have received a termination notice or layoff notice from their employer. Re-employment services provide essential training, job placement, and other employment services. CDBG provides flexible funding to cities and smaller communities to meet local housing and economic development needs. A 1999 HUD report found that 13 million Americans pay more than half their household income for rent or live in substandard housing.