DELAURO APPLAUDS NEW SUPPORT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD LEARNING

Sent letter urging action to Secretary Duncan earlier this month

Washington, DC— Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro(CT-3), Ranking Member on the Labor, Education, Health, and HumanServices Appropriations Subcommittee, issued the following statementtoday in response to the announcement by Secretary of Education ArneDuncan and Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius of the creation of the $500 million state grant competition, the Race to the Top-Early Learning Challenge

"I am delighted by today's announcement. Early childhood is an issue that is very close to my heart, and Ilook forward to these funds improving the lives of infants andtoddlers across the nation. Study after study has shown that theearliest of experiences are essential and that supportive environments are critical to long term outcomes for children— and it isno hyperbole to say that our very future is at stake here.

"I have fought for more support for these critical programs and services for years, and just wrote to the SecretaryDuncan earlier this month, urging him to take action in this way. This new Early Learning Challenge will enable states to improve childdevelopment programs and transform early education standards andpractices. These funds as especially important given the currenteconomic and political environments: many families are stillstruggling to make ends meet, but the proposed Republican budget ismaking reckless decisions that will surely cut Head Start and childcare programs. This $500 million investment will ensure that stateswill not have to cut back on the programs so fundamental to ourchildren's future success and make quality improvements toexisting programs.

"That is why I urge the Department of Education to prioritize both improving the quality of these programs as well asincreasing access to them. There is arguably no better way to spendour education dollars than to fund programs for early childhooddevelopment, and I look forward to the implementation and results ofthe Early Learning Challenge."