House Bill Will Dismantle Head Start
The following is a press release from July 24, 2003, by Kucinich's office in Congress
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Kucinich: House Bill Will Dismantle Head Start
Will Harm Those Who Need Help The Most
Congressman Dennis J. Kucinich (D-OH), Co-Chair of the Progressive Caucus, today, issued the following statement on a bill before the House that will dismantle Head Start and harm low-income children.
Kucinich stated:
"Today, the United States House of Representatives is taking a giant step backwards and is seeking to dismantle one of the most successful government programs in our nation's history, Head Start. In a time of an economic downturn, when Head Start is needed the most, this House is seeking to end Head Start as we know it. The bill, being pushed through the House this evening by the Majority, will result in 42 states that provide low-income children a Head Start program that offers no improvements to access, no resources for teacher quality, and embraces discrimination in hiring.
"And in 8 states, the program is simply dismantled, dissolving Head Start into a block grant without requiring the federal Head Start performance standards. This means states that take over the program will have the freedom, perhaps the economic incentive, to eliminate health screenings and services, eliminate parenting education, eliminate dental exams, eliminate adult literacy services, eliminate parent classroom involvement, and eliminate vision services.
"To be very clear, the block grant is first step towards the end of Head Start as children and families know it. In 2001 poverty rose for the first time in 8 years. We should not be dismantling Head Start just as more and more families need it.
"Children can't vote in the House of Representatives. But, they deserve the continuation of Head Start, not its demise."
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