Dear Head Start advocate,
Last week, the US House of Representatives introduced H.R. 1 which would fund the Federal government for the remaining 6 months of FY 2011 by slashing funding for many key programs. This included a drastic nearly 22.4 percent cut to Head Start programs that would result in more than 200,000 children losing services and more than 50,000 Head Start employees losing their jobs. The US House will be debating this bill over the next week and then the US Senate will look at it in the following weeks.
Make no mistake, this proposed cut, if passed by Congress, would be devastating to Head Start. However, as a Head Start community, we have faced challenging times and responded with a strong, united, and effective voice. This voice has successfully led Head Start against adversary countless times. And now, we need this voice to speak out again against the largest ever funding cut to Head Start.
So what can you do?
1.) If you are coming to the Office of Head Start conference in Baltimore, Maryland, extend your trip or take an afternoon to come to DC to meet with your legislators, and do not forget your Senators. It is less than an hour train ride and it is important to have your voice as constituent be heard in support of Head Start.Contact Tommy Sheridan if you need assistance, tsheridan@nhsa.org or 703-739-7560. We can provide you with data from your state and Talking Points.2.) Please send an email to your Members of Congress urging them not to cut funding for Head Start. It will only take 30 seconds to complete. Click here to send your Members of Congress the email. After you send it, post the link to your Facebook and Twitter pages and email it to everyone in your network (or at least to 5 of your friends).
NHSA will be monitoring the discussion quite closely and will be releasing additional details as the debate on the House bill continues. Please come to DC, call your Senators and Representatives, and stay tuned for additional action items that will be announced this week.
It is time for the Head Start community to unite and speak out. The futures of our children, families, and communities depend on it. The future of our nation depends on it.
We can do it!
Yasmina Vinci
Executive Director