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News Release

STATEMENT BY TOMMY G. THOMPSON

Secretary Of Health And Human Services
Regarding Introduction of Head Start Legislation

I commend the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, especially Chairman Boehner and Representative Castle, for the work they have done to introduce legislation to reauthorize the Head Start program. The bill introduced today is a major step toward strengthening the Head Start program and ensuring that Head Start children have the skills they need to succeed in school.

President Bush and I look forward to working with Chairman Boehner, the Committee and all members of Congress in the coming weeks to approve legislation. We will work together to ensure that Head Start children have the skills they need to succeed in school, increase enrollment in Head Start across the nation, and forge a new partnership with the states to improve coordination among preschool programs and improve opportunities and outcomes for children.

Again, I am eager to work with all members of Congress to make our shared vision of a stronger Head Start program a reality.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: May 22, 2003