Washington D.C. - Congressman Steve King voted last night to keep English as our national language, and to protect local community and faith-based groups from being forced to ignore their own faithful values and mission. 

King has voted every year for Head Start since being elected to Congress.  But this year he voted “NO” on a Head Start bill written by Democrats with new harmful language.  The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 365-48. 

Head Start is a program for pre-Kindergarten youth that is carried out by contract with local community providers throughout the United States.  The bill debated in the House does not protect the hiring-rights of faith-based service providers, and would also use taxpayer funds for bi-lingual education.

“Thousands of kids are helped by Head Start to develop at a young age.  Unfortunately, in recent years, many administrators have begun to discriminate against faith-based service providers and would prefer to ignore their contributions to the community.  When the government wants to support superior services to citizens, young and old, faith-based groups must be welcome at the table.  They are the fabric of this nation,” said King.

The bill would also direct Head Start to use taxpayer funding for bilingual education.  American taxpayers would be forced to pay for bilingual classes for students who do not speak English well.  King supports teaching in English to all students.  King offered two amendments making English the only language for instruction.  Both amendments were rejected by the Democrat majority.

“Punishing faith-based groups with discrimination and mandating bilingual education are not appropriate ways to spend taxpayer dollars.  This bill also calls for an unaffordable expansion of Head Start to serve infants and parents.  It is especially vital that we reject any cynical attempt to mold otherwise important legislation into an ideological weapon.  Head Start is a worthy program, but I cannot support it if it rejects English language instruction and First Amendment rights, stated King.”

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