From Head Start to Child Care and Development, Democrats are
working to promote safety and health for America's children. Democrats support
access to Head Start programs for all eligible children and backed the Early
Learning Opportunities program, signed by President Clinton in December 2000.
With three out of five preschoolers in childcare while their parents work, safe
and quality childcare is a concern for millions of Americans and the Democratic
Party. The Early Learning Opportunities program provides resources to
communities for more responsive early childhood systems, including parent
education and family support services.
President Bush has proposed cutting 2,500 kids from the Head Start program and
by his Administration's own estimates, Head Start will fall 84,000 children
short of a Democratic goal to ensure that one million children receive Head
Start by FY 2002. Additionally, the President proposed eliminating all funding
for the Early Learning Opportunities program and freezing funding for Healthy
Start, a program to reduce low birth weight, inadequate prenatal care, and other
factors contributing to infant mortality. The President's 2001 budget even cut
the Child Care and Development Block Grant by $200 million.