I rise in strong support of H.R. 1429. the Improving Head Start Act. This legislafion is long overdue. I would like to commend Chairman MILLER and Ranking Member McKEON and Subcommittee Chairman KILDEE and Ranking Member CASTLE for working together to craft bipartisan legislation that will significantly improve the Head Start programespecially for Hispanic and migrant farm worker families. It is my hope that this spirit of bipartisanship will carry the legislation all the way to the Presidents desk for his signature. It is also my hope that this body will reject any attempts 10 allow discrimination to infect the Heat Start programwhether the discrimination is based on religion or on the language that is spoken at home. The bill before us today strengthens "Head Start" for Hispanics and families whose primary language is not English. Here are just a few of the highlights: The bill increases the base funding for Migrant and Seasonal Head Start to a minimum of 5 percent o1 the overall Head Start funding. which means that more farm worker children will be in preschool instead ol in the fields. the bill sets standards for communications with limited English proficient (LEP) parents so that language is not a barrier to Head Start access. It instructs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a study of how Head Start programs serve LEP populations. It enhances Head Start transitions for LEP cildren to kindergarten. 1t provides technical assistance resources for improving the quality of Head Start services for LEP populations. particularly in communities that have experienced a rapid and large increase in Head Start eligible LEP children.
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