Washington D.C. ---- 

Madame Speaker, I rise in fervent support of H.R. 1429, the Improving Head Start Act. This bill represents one of the most important pieces of legislation that Congress will deliberate because it affects a countless number of our young children and helps prepare them for a lifetime of learning and success. 

        Specifically, I applaud and support Congresswoman Johnson’s amendment which addresses the need of engaging low-income and minority students, who overwhelmingly attend HCBU’s, and provides them with additional opportunities to train in early childhood education at the undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels.

These same college students would then be required to teach in Head Start programs educating students who share similar backgrounds and family situations.

Madame Speaker, the Johnson amendment is a win-win for our college students, our beginning students, and for the health and future of this country.

        Research verifies what we already understand, that the earlier our children are engaged in the learning process the higher their chances of success later in school and in life.

        Head Start promotes school readiness by providing our youngest students with early reading and math skills, enhancing their social and cognitive development, and providing them with health, nutritional, and other services.

        By addressing the educational needs of our youngest children early on, we will increase our chances of closing existing achievement gaps. I urge all of my colleagues to support the Johnson Amendment, and the Improving Head Start Act.