{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-stands-educators-and-parents-condemn-proposed-republican-cuts", "Magaziner Stands with Educators and Parents to Condemn Proposed Republican Cuts to Education", "2023-08-29", "2023", "2023-08", "Democrat", "House", "RI", "Seth Magaziner", "M001223", "magaziner.house.gov", "magaziner", "https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "West Warwick, RI \u2014 Today, Representative Seth Magaziner (RI-02) stood with educators and parents to condemn House Republicans\u2019 proposed cuts to education, including Head Start and school funding for teachers. As a former public school teacher and Rhode Island\u2019s General Treasurer for eight years \u2013 where he spearheaded an initiative to rebuild school buildings across the state \u2013 Rep. Magaziner has long been an advocate for public education.\n\nThe House Republican FY2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill \u2013 and its 28 percent cut of $64 billion \u2013 will slash access to early childhood education, kick teachers out of classrooms, and deny opportunities for children and young adults in Rhode Island and across the country. In Rhode Island, these cuts will eliminate access to Head Start for 200 children and remove up to 800 teachers from classrooms serving low-income students.\n\nThese extreme cuts have been introduced amidst a national teacher shortage that has taken a toll on public school classrooms across Rhode Island, as well as the closure of over a quarter of Rhode Island\u2019s Head Start classrooms due to lack of funding and staffing shortages. These closures have led to long waitlists and a lack of affordable child care for parents.\n\n\u201cEnsuring students have access to early childhood education and outstanding schools is critical to their success, but House Republicans\u2019 proposed education cuts would rob future generations of this opportunity,\u201d said Rep. Seth Magaziner. \u201cAt a time where Rhode Island \u2013 and our nation \u2013 is facing a teacher shortage, Head Start classroom closures, and learning loss from the pandemic, these are the exact wrong priorities. We must invest in education, not slash funding for it. I am committed to fighting back against these extreme Republican cuts in Congress so that we set every child up for success.\u201d\n\n\u201cHead Start and Early Head Start are high-quality early learning programs that help prepare some of our state's youngest learners for success in school and life,\u201d said Paige Clausius-Parks, Executive Director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT. \u201cHead Start also supports families with wrap-around services and as a reliable child care option that allows parents to get to work. Head Start and Early Head Start are part of our state and nation's early education infrastructure, and Congress needs to fully fund these proven programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former Head Start parent and a Head Start employee of 28 years, the last two as program director, I've seen firsthand how Head Start improves the lives of the young children and families we serve,\u201d said Michelle Wolstenholme, Chief Executive Officer and Head Start Director of CHILD, Inc. in Warwick. \u201cRhode Island families deserve access to Head Start and Early Head Start, and that is why it is unconscionable that Congress is considering cutting funding for these proven programs. I want to thank Representative Magaziner and the rest of the Rhode Island congressional delegation for fighting to restore funding so that we can continue to provide Head Start and Early Head Start to children and families who need these programs the most.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe federal Early Head Start program was a huge support for my family,\u201d said Bernelle Richardson of West Warwick. \u201cIt helped to ensure that my children had a reliable, high-quality, free early learning experience during their earliest years of development. Head Start also supported me as I completed my nursing degree so that I could fulfill my career goals. Now I help other mothers as a Women's Care Nurse at Kent Hospital. It is critical that Congress restore full funding for Early Head Start and Head Start so more Rhode Island families, like mine, can benefit from these wonderful programs.\u201d\n\n\u201cSince 1965, Title One funding has been instrumental in providing resources to school districts to help mitigate the impact of poverty on our children\u2019s education,\u201d said Frank Flynn, President of Rhode Island Federation of Teachers. \u201cAt a time when we desperately need to ramp-up services for our students due to learning loss, House Republicans\u2019 proposed cuts to Title One would force districts to reduce the teacher workforce, denying students access to the support, resources, and programs that are essential to their success. The RIFTHP appreciates Rep. Magaziner\u2019s advocacy for this important issue.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Rhode Island and our nation face educator shortages, it\u2019s critical that we support funding to recruit and retain teachers,\u201d said Val Lawson, President of the National Education Association Rhode Island. \u201cSlashing Title I funding will only harm the education and development of our children. I thank Rep. Magaziner for his efforts in Congress to protect students from harmful cuts so they can achieve their full potential.\u201d\n\nIn addition to cutting federal funding for Title I and Head Start, the extreme House Republican 2024 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill will:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:30:18Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://magaziner.house.gov/media/press-releases/magaziner-stands-educators-and-parents-condemn-proposed-republican-cuts"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.251915168017149, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}