S.Res. 418 – A resolution designating the week beginning April 2, 2006, as "Week of the Youn…

III

109th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. RES. 418

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 31, 2006

Mr. Salazar (for himself, Mr. DeWine, Mr. Dodd, Ms. Landrieu, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Burr, Mr. Levin, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Conrad, and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

RESOLUTION

Designating the week beginning April 2, 2006, as Week of the Young Child.

Whereas there are 20,000,000 children under the age of 5 in the United States;

Whereas numerous studies, including the Abecedarian Study, the Study of the Chicago Child-Parent Center, and the High/Scope Perry Preschool Study, indicate that low-income children who have enrolled in quality, comprehensive early childhood education programs—

(1)

improve their cognitive, language, physical, social, and emotional development; and

(2)

are less likely to—

(A)

be placed in special education;

(B)

drop out of school; or

(C)

engage in juvenile delinquency;

Whereas the enrollment rates of children under the age of 5 in early childhood education programs have steadily increased since 1965 with—

(1)

the creation of the Head Start program carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.);

(2)

the establishment of the Early Head Start program carried out under the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9831 et seq.); and

(3)

the enactment of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858 et seq.);

Whereas many children eligible for, and in need of, quality early childhood education services are not served due to inadequate funding;

Whereas over 4,000,000 children under the age of 5 live in poverty;

Whereas only about 1/2 of all preschoolers who are eligible to participate in Head Start programs have the opportunity to do so, and even fewer eligible babies and toddlers receive the opportunity to participate in Early Head Start;

Whereas only about 1 out of every 7 eligible children receives an amount of child care assistance sufficient to—

(1)

enable the parents of the child to continue working; and

(2)

provide the child with safe and nurturing early childhood care and education;

Whereas, although State and local governments have responded to the numerous benefits of early childhood education by making significant investments in programs and classrooms, there remains—

(1)

a large unmet need for those services; and

(2)

a need to improve the quality of those programs; and

Whereas, according to numerous studies on the impact of investments in high-quality early childhood education, the programs yield to the public a return of 4 dollars to 13 dollars for each dollar invested: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate—

(1)

designates the week beginning April 2, 2006, as Week of the Young Child;

(2)

encourages the citizens of the United States to celebrate—

(A)

young children; and

(B)

the citizens who provide care and early childhood education to the young children of the United States; and

(3)

urges the citizens of the United States to recognize the importance of—

(A)

quality, comprehensive early childhood education programs; and

(B)

the value of those services for preparing children to—

(i)

appreciate future educational experiences; and

(ii)

enjoy lifelong success.

A resolution designating the week beginning April 2, 2006, as "Week of the Young Child".

Legislative Activity

Floor Debate

Bill Text