	For immediate release May 16, 2007		Contact: Badar Tareen 202-225-3611

	Kildee Announces More Than $700,000 for Early Head Start Program in TuscolaCounty


	*Washington* – Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) announced today that $724,143 in federal funding will be awarded to the Human Development Commission (HDC) in Caro, Michigan for the Early Head Start Program. HDC is a non-profit organization that works to fight poverty. “Early Head Start has always been a top priority for me. This program provides vital services to the nation’s most vulnerable children,” Congressman Kildee said. “These funds will strengthen the local Early Head Start program, and give many young children and their families the tools they need to succeed.” Early Head Start provides low-income infants and toddlers under age three and their families with comprehensive services – educational, family support, health and nutritional – that enable the children to do well in school and in life. This program is part of Head Start, the country’s premiere early childhood education and development program that has served more than 20 million families in its 42-year history. The chairman of the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary and Secondary Education, Congressman Kildee is chief sponsor of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007 that would reauthorize and improve Head Start. The Congressman’s bill recently passed the House of Representatives with a bi-partisan vote of 365 to 48. The Senate now needs to approve it before the President can sign it. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awarded this grant with funds appropriated by Congress.

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