Senator Murray Rallies with Bipartisan Members of Congress, Advocates, Parents Against Trump’s Attacks on Head Start

Murray : “Trump wants to turn Head Start into a Dead End.” ICYMI : Senator Murray Slams Trump’s Latest Attack on Head Start, Calls on Teachers and Parents to Protect the Program ICYMI : Senators Murray, Luján, and Advocates Sound the Alarm on Trump’s Latest Attack on Head Start, Vow to Save Head Start *** WATCH : Senator Murray’s remarks*** Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member and former chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, joined a bipartisan group of members of Congress, child care advocates, and parents, to sound the alarm on the damaging new proposed rule from the Department of Health and Human Services that if finalized could gut Head Start by shredding basic standards that keep kids safe and advances their education. The proposed rule removes most of Head Start’s 133 pages of requirements for class sizes, discipline, medical screenings, home visits, hours of service, staff qualifications, and more. In her remarks, Senator Murray highlighted how vital Head Start is for families in Washington state and across the country, and how important it is to preserve the strong, consistent standards and comprehensive services that Head Start provides for communities. In her remarks, she also called on families to make their voices heard and participate in the ongoing public comment period. Senator Murray’s remarks, as delivered, are below: “Last month, President Trump, the billionaire who thinks we can not afford child care but who does thinks we can always find money for war and billionaire tax cuts, well as you know, he launched his latest attack on working families: it is a  proposal that will rip the heart out of our Head Start program, by shredding over a hundred and thirty pages of rules that help our kids stay safe and make sure they do get a quality education. “No one is falling for Trump’s spin here, no one. Are you? No! In just about every way you can think of—this rule would tear Head Start down. “ Now, Trump wants to tear down guardrails that keep kids safe; like requiring background checks on the people we trust with our kids, or banning corporal punishment, or requiring bus monitors so bus drivers can actually focus on traffic without wondering what’s happening to all of the toddlers that are behind him or her. “ Now, Trump also wants to tear down the standards that ensure quality; duration requirements so programs are actually open when parents need them, curriculum requirements so kids aren’t just left watching brain rot television, and requirements for play areas, and food prep spaces, and bathrooms. “And Trump wants to tear down safety nets that keep our kids from falling through the cracks—you know like screenings that are often the first time a kid has their hearing, vision, and teeth checked, trainings on how to recognize and help victims of child abuse, and rules that protect our kids with disabilities from harmful practices. “But, of course, when it comes to the one thing he should be tearing down—which is barriers for families—he’s putting up new ones! “His rule will end up kicking homeless kids out of Head Start—the proposal even admits to that! His rule will push out families that might not speak English as their first language. And his rule will ultimately shut down Head Start centers as it whittles down threadbare budgets even more and burns out our caregivers who are already overworked and underpaid by pushing them to watch more kids than they can handle. “The bottom line for this proposal is pretty simple, Trump wants to turn Head Start into a Dead End. Well not if I have anything to say about it—and not if parents have anything to say about it. “And I will tell you right now, there is a comment period—parents are already raising their voices. You can go and read their stories about how Head Start health care screenings helped their child get a hearing aid or glasses, or what a relief it was to know their kids were safe, and cared for, and how they could not have afforded early education without Head Start. Now, I just checked this morning, and there are already over 12,000 comments on this proposed rule. “But I know there are a lot more parents with stories that need to share them. I know there are moms and dads out there watching right now, wondering what they can do and what’s going to happen to this program and what they can do to help save it. “ Here is what you can do, go to regulations.gov right now and leave a comment, make your voice heard. “And here’s what is going to happen, we are going to fight tooth and nail to stop each and every one of Trump’s horrible attacks on Head Start.” ###