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LULAC Praises President Obama for Requesting Increased Funds for Head Start and Urges Congress to Match the President’s Request

April 24, 2013

Contact: Paloma Zuleta, 202-833-6130, PZuleta (at) LULAC . org

Washington, D.C.- Today, the Hispanic Education Coalition (HEC), co-chaired by the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) sent a letter to Members of Congress urging them to match the President’s fiscal year 2014 budget request for Head Start. Due to the sequestration, Head Start, among other important programs, is likely to lose significant funding that would leave an estimated 70,000 students, many of them Hispanic, without access to this critical early education program.

“Since 1929, LULAC has worked to ensure that universal and high quality education is available to Hispanic students everywhere,” said LULAC National President Margaret Moran. “With that in mind, in 1957 we established what would serve as the model for the Head Start program which, at the time, was known as the “Little School of the 400.” To date, Head Start, Migrant and Seasonal Head Start, and Early Head Start have served millions of young children and it is estimated that over 30% of current national Head Start participants are Latino Americans. We are encouraged to see that the President requested increased funds for Head Start and Early Head Start programs and urge Congress to match his request.”

Last month, LULAC sent a letter to Congress urging the immediate repeal of the sequester. In addition, LULAC has been a strong supporter of the Head Start program and has advocated for increased funding. When Congress failed to act, President Obama took action by requesting increased funding for Head Start as part of his fiscal year 2014 budget request to Congress – Head Start was one of the few budget items for which the President sought increased funding.

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About LULAC: The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 900 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.