In 2007, Congress voted overwhelmingly to reauthorize Head Start, a program that was first conceived as part of President Lyndon Johnson's War On Poverty. It was designed to introduce children into a learning environment before they actually start school to instill in them an early love of learning and reading.

It has proven its worth. Studies show that if I child leaves Head Start and goes on to a good school, that they often can retain an edge over their classmates that lasts their entire academic career. I am proud to have lent my voice and my vote to this bill.