Early childhood, the first six years of life, is a critical time for children to develop the physical, emotional, social and cognitive skills they will need for the rest of their life. Good nutrition and health care are essential to maximize this developmental process. Head Start is a 55-year-old $11.6 billion federal program helping children attain this goal. Head Start is one of our most successful and longest-running programs fighting systemic poverty. About 35 million children from low-income families have attended Head Start programs and there are more than a million children enrolled today. Beginning at age three, Head Start kids learn fundamental cognitive skills while developing the social and emotional capabilities to begin school. Head Start feeds these children and provides medical, dental and mental health care. Their parents learn about nutrition, child development, and are guided into appropriate community programs if needed. However, due to budget constraints, only 3 of 5 eligible children are currently enrolled in one of our 1,700 Head Start programs nationwide.

Pending Legislation: S.2819 - Head Start for America's Children Act
Sponsor: Sen. Bernard Sanders (VT)
Status: Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Chair: Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA)

• I oppose reforming current Head Start policy and wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Leader John Thune (SD).
• I support fully funding and expanding the Head Start program, aiming to serve all eligible young children, increase educator pay to $60k+, improve facilities, add mental health services, and better align hours with working families by:
  
  1.) Authorizing full funding to reach all eligible children, addressing underfunding issues that limit access.
  
  2.) Mandating raising Head Start teacher salaries to at least $60,000 annually, with benefits, and providing recruitment incentives.
  
  3.) Adding mental health services, including screenings and consultations, for children, families, and staff.
  
  4.) Aligning program hours with parents' work schedules and providing funds for transportation, including for homeless children.
  
  5.) Allocating funds for critical facility updates, like removing lead hazards, and encouraging co-location with colleges.
  
  6.) Strengthening training and pathways to diversify the early educator workforce.
  
  And wish to donate resources to the campaign committee of Sen. Bill Cassidy (LA) and/or to an advocate group currently working with this issue.