Davis Opposes Republican Plan to Dismantle Head Start
"If it ain't broke, don't fix it," Davis Says July 25, 2003

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis late last night voted in favor of our rural schools, children and families by voting against plans to strip the Head Start program of needed and well utilized services. The House passed, by a vote of 217-216, an irresponsible Republican plan that would put the education and development of rural "at risk" children in jeopardy.

"Head Start is crucial to the development of many of the children in my district," Davis said. "It provides critical, developmental, and pre-school services to many rural low-income children and their families. We know that preparing children to learn is about more than just teaching letters and numbers. Head Start aims to give children the skills and abilities that will serve them throughout their school careers."

Since its inception in 1965, the Head Start program has assisted 20 million low-income children and their families through a comprehensive early-learning environment. Head Start also provides a variety of social and medical needs. Currently, there are 3,093 children enrolled in 69 Head Start programs in the 4th District. Eighty-two percent of these children are living in families with incomes below the federal poverty line.

Rep. Davis voted for a Democratic substitute that would keep many of the key provisions of the Head Start program in place and remove the block grant proposal. The block grant proposal in the Republican plan would shift Head Start from a community-run to a state-run program. With the budget shortfalls that many states are facing, it could mean a reduction or elimination of the comprehensive services that are provided.

"Rural areas and children are often at a disadvantage due to a lack of services available to them," Davis said. "Rural America can not afford to lose such a valuable asset. As WWI hero Sgt. Alvin C. York once said, 'one of the great liberating influences in life is an education.' I want to make sure the children in the 4th District have that opportunity."