Dear Majority Leader Reid, Republican Leader McConnell, Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi:
I write to request that you work together to find a common-sense alternative to sequestration. The evidence is mounting that this method of addressing our budget issues is having dire consequences, especially on our Nation's youngest and most vulnerable citizens: low-income children enrolled in Head Start.
Today, I visited the Luzerne County Head Start program, which has been forced to cut 32 places from its Head Start program and 17 places from its Early Head Start program. These 49 children are among the 2,812 seats that have been cut from Pennsylvania's Head Start program as a result of sequestration. Nationwide over 57,000 children have lost the opportunity to participate in Head Start.
It is critical for Congress to develop a comprehensive strategy to address deficit reduction. Although I sincerely believe we must work to get our fiscal house in order, I also believe it is necessary to solidify the ongoing economic recovery and protect our communities. Cuts to crucial programs, such as Head Start, pose too much harm to the prospects of our Nation's children. As such, I ask you to prioritize working together to find a balanced and reasonable approach to solving sequestration.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator