Carter warns Georgia Senators: Their Shutdown Will Hurt Head Start Children

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Earl L. "Buddy" Carter (R-GA) sent a letter to Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) urging them to reopen the government before Head Start, a program that provides early education, health and nutrition, and family support for children and families in need, runs out of funding and low-income families in Georgia suffer.

Beginning November 1^st, five Georgia Head Start providers will lose federal funding if the lapse in appropriations continues, forcing at least one provider - Action Pact - to close its doors. In a letter to impacted families, Action Pact cited a lack of "action by Congress" in forcing its decision.

In the letter, Rep. Carter writes, "These programs provide high-quality early education, nutritious meals, health and developmental screenings, and essential support services for children with disabilities and those experiencing homelessness… In Georgia alone, more than 16,000 children and families depend on these services. Yet, because of your continued support to shut down the government, classrooms could soon go dark and hundreds of teachers will be furloughed."

Rep. Carter continues, "Instead of holding hardworking Georgia families hostage, I urge you to act immediately to end the government shutdown and keep Head Start programs open and operational so that no child in Georgia loses access to the care and education they deserve."

Read the full letter here.

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