Date: 2003-07-24
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Mr. Chairman. I am here today to oppose H.R. 2210. the School Readiness Act of 2003. While I agree that every child deserves an early educationthe "head start"-that they need to get a strong start in life. and to be safe and secure while their parents are at work. providing its funding in the form of block grants and moving the program from the Department of Health and Human Services would strip the program of its effectiveness. Every day. three out of five preschoolers are In childcare and millions of older children are in afterschool activities while their parents work. Head Start activities help to shape the way children think. learn. and behave for the rest of their lives. but little attention is being paid to the quality of those experiences. While Head Start offers a strong educational foundation. the program teaches proper nutrition and provides health mental health and mental health screenings and other important services that many of these children would not have if it were not for the Head Start program. This Nations most comprehensive and successful preschool program for lowincome families. Head Start serves at least 1 million children each year. As a member of this body. but more importantly as a grandmother I am troubled by the administrations plans to dismantle this proven program by turning it over to struggling states. I find this move to be incredulous and it baffles me as to why such a move would be necessary. Disappointingly. last week the Rules Committee voted on a closed rule. which allowed no amendments to H.R. 2210. During the last week. colleagues on both sides of the aisle echoed the need for civility and respect in this institution in making this a better America. Republicans offer a rule that allows changes to their bill without allowing changes to the Democratic substitute. and also blocks consideration of critical Democratic amendments. I understand that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are doing everything to succeed the Presidents agenda. but I am shocked that they are doing it at the cost of innocent. deserving young children. This administration is eager to prescribe unfunded mandates yet they offer no tangible means of implementing measures. An Issue of great concern to many. which is not addressed in the current bill. is how Head Start programs will comply with new regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (found at 45 CFR part 1310). These new regulations require significant changes to the manner In which these programs transport Head Start children to and from school and were Issued without providing programs with any effective* means to fund these changes. As a result. numerous programs are having difficulty complying with the transpoltation regulations and particularly with the next deadline for implementationJanuary 20. 2004. If an. open rule were provided. I planned on offering an amendment. In order to address this problem. I recommend extending the deadline for Head Start programs to comply with the transportation requirerpents from January 2004 to 2006. During this time period. with the input from the local Head Start centers. I believe these regulations could be effectively revisited and modified. The Head Start program not only involves the child but also recognizes the importance of the family. Head Start has included parents in both the childs education and their membership of in the Head Start Policy Council. Although this bill does focus on literacy. it abandons the comprehensive approach that is fundamental to Head Starts success. There are additional benefits of Head Start. including providing medical screenings. immunizations. nutritional assistance and referral service for families. I have received numerous letters from teachers. parents. and other employees of the Sunnyview and Greater Head Start locations in my district of Dallas. Texas. Each one pleading for additional funding and urging the program to be kept in its current structure. One parent writes. "they teach them how to write. count. their ABCs. to draw. to be responsible. . . Many families feel comfortable wth this program because they can come in and volunteer In the classes and see what the children are learning." Mr. Chairman. we must join hands and commit to work together in our countrys educational struggle. A good education is the key component of success in the information age. That is why extending educational opportunity to every child in America has become my principal mission in life. It is my earnest plea that my colleagues will join me and vote against H.R. 2210 in its current form. Head Start should not be moved to the Department of Education. nor should the funding ever be in question by having it succumb to the politics of block grants.