As we now know, education does not begin in kindergarten. That is why the Head Start program is so important. In 2002, Head Start gave over 900,000 American children an early start on education. With my active support, this Congress passed legislation to ensure that a greater number of Head Start teachers are trained and educated in early childhood development. Congress also increased the funding for the Head Start program by $148 million, bringing the total funding to $6.815 billion in FY ’04.

Head Start gets children on the right path, and President Bush’s No Child Left Behind program seeks to ensure that every child remains on the educational road to success. Through comprehensive teaching and testing, children will no longer be passed along to the next grade without being properly prepared for success. We must never give up on any child; they may learn at different rates, but every young student will be accounted for under the law.

In the same way that education no longer begins with kindergarten, education no longer ends with High School. College degrees are increasingly necessary for high paying jobs in the modern workforce. With the help of my colleagues, I have worked hard to ensure that everyone has access to a college education. Congress approved approximately $70 billion in FY 2004 for direct financial assistance to students. As part of this package, Congress allocated an all time high of approximately $12.1 billion for Pell Grants- financial aid awards made directly to college students. As higher education becomes increasingly important in the workforce, Congress must work to guarantee that our Colleges and Universities are accessible to everyone. I know that education is the key to success. I will continue to fight to improve the education of our children.

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