Head Start Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014

Floor Speech

Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, after months of refusing Democratic calls to negotiate a replacement to the sequester that slashed over $400 million from the Head Start budget this year and eliminated slots for 50,000 children, I'm pleased to see some of my Republican colleagues acknowledging the importance of this early education program. However, to truly serve these kids and their families, we should pass a clean CR that will immediately send funding to those centers that did not receive their payments last week and then we should work together to replace the damaging sequester cuts.

A clean CR would reopen all programs for vulnerable children and their families. It would provide funding for the Community Action Agencies that represent one-third of all Head Start grantees. It would fund child care programs that help parents find affordable and safe places for their children when the Head Start day ends. And it would fund the Social Services Block Grant that helps fill gaps in services to help low-income families get back on their feet.

All of these vital programs are ignored in the resolution on the Floor today. I urge the Speaker to let the House vote on the Senate-passed CR and reopen the government now.

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