Happy Birthday Head Start

Floor Speech

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Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate a remarkable milestone in our Nation's history--the 58th anniversary of Head Start. The Head Start Project launched in 1965 as a comprehensive, anti- poverty, child development program. Since then, more than 37 million children and their families have enjoyed the benefits of Head Start.

Early in my professional career, I worked as a Head Start teacher at the Nettelhorst School in Chicago. Today, Head Start serves almost 29,000 children and their families in Illinois alone. As I reflect on my experience there and on the history of Head Start, I am still in awe at the impact it has on lifting families out of generational poverty. Head Start has proven itself to be an invaluable program, empowering children from low-income families, those suffering from homelessness and those in the foster care system, and setting them on a path towards success.

As we celebrate the 58th anniversary of this extraordinary program, let us reaffirm our commitment to Head Start, and ensure that every child in America has access to a bright future. Happy Birthday Head Start.

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