Congress Must Act on Behalf of Children and Families

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate is moving forward with a reconciliation package that does not currently include funding for Head Start and child care. National Head Start Association Executive Director Yasmina Vinci made the following statement in response:

“The Senate’s proposed reconciliation plan is leaving behind our nation’s youngest learners, their families, and the workforce that stabilizes our communities. Already, Head Start programs are in crisis, with approximately 90% indicating they have closed classrooms permanently or temporarily due to lack of staff in the last year. Clearly, we have already reached crisis proportions. Without substantial and sustained funding, this crisis will only deepen to the detriment of children and families who need high-quality early education services the most. Congress cannot miss this opportunity to invest in children and families. As congressional leaders move the current framework into a legislative package, they must add provisions that deliver desperately-needed support for children and families through Head Start and child care.”