Washington, D.C. - United States Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) today offered a bipartisan amendment during the House Education and Workforce Committee’s consideration of the “School Readiness Act of 2005” (H.R. 2123).
Van Hollen, along with Representatives Todd Platts (R-PA) and Judy Biggart (R-IL), offered an amendment which would allow Head Start providers who have funding for more children than they have enrolled, and have exhausted outreach efforts to recruit students in the 3-5 year old group, to use the funding to provide Early Head Start Programs for children under the age of three. This amendment passed the Committee on a voice vote.
“I am pleased that the Committee approved this amendment,” said Van Hollen. “It is important that we expand access to Early Head Start programs. The earliest years of a child’s life are critical to brain development. We must ensure that every child has the opportunity to get off to a good start in life.”