Good News from the Senate and a Call to Action
Posted by Julie Stone on March 8, 2011 under Legislative Updates, News | 
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From Barbara Haxton, OHSAI Executive Director
The Senate has published their budget for the remaining 7 months of the current federal year. In deep contrast to the House bill which cuts $1,083,000,000 of Head Start base funding and a billion more in ARRA funding, the Senate bill would provide $7.57 billion, $1.4 billion more than the House. This would keep all 218,000 threatened child slots in Head Start and Early Head Start intact. 55,000 Head Start staff would stay employed and they would still save $600 million!
We have an opportunity in the next days and weeks to dramatically reverse the disaster that the House Bill HR 1 would force upon us! But this will NOT happen without your help. We must keep a constant flow of letters to our two Senator’s offices as well as the White House. The tone of these letters should be thanking both Senator Brown and President Obama for the support reflected in these figures.
Remember that:
Senator Brown is a member of the Appropriations Committee which shaped these figures! He needs our appreciation and that of the 218,000 children who might never get the Head Start they deserve! He is definitely on our side and continues to support us! Send an email to him saying thank you. Do it via contacts with Margie Glick his education assistant – Margie_glick@brown.senate.gov 202-224-2315.
President Obama has made an ongoing commitment to Head Start and Early Head Start. He needs to hear from us that we are thanking him for this and trusting in him to hang tough in these negotiations on behalf of the 218,000 children who would lose their future, the 55,000 talented, dedicated staff who would lose their jobs and the over 2,000 agencies which would be severely damaged by such draconian cuts! Send a fax/email to the White House (www.whitehouse.gov) 202-456-1111 for comments; 202-456-1414 switchboard and 202-456-2461 fax
We must assume that we can convince Senator Portman to see the investment potential in Head Start and Early Head Start and support us in our effort! Go through his aide – Megan Harrington Megan_harrington@portman.senate.gov 202-224-3353
** and remember to send all these notes from your home computers or your personal phones.
We will keep up the media barrage as well. The Washington, D.C. contractor retained by Region V HSA, and our association consultant can work to support your media contacts. If you need support, or have an idea for a local TV or news media release, let us know and we will provide whatever help you might need (short of cash).
We all have the opportunity to impact this cause. Family, friends, Facebook or other networks need to be in play!!
Here is the original text from pages 9-10 of the Senate’s Summary of their March 5 proposal:
