Your Senators and Representatives will soon be making a decision about Head Start funding levels for the next fiscal year, and it is critical that they hear from you now!

Kids from low-income families benefit from early care and education programs like Head Start. Without this comprehensive program, low-income kids would enter Kindergarten much further behind their peers and not receive preventive health services provided by Head Start. Since 2002, Head Start centers across the country have had to make drastic cuts because their annual funding has not kept up with inflation.

This year, the U.S. Senate is proposing a $200 million increase for 2008, whereas the House of Representatives is proposing only a $75 million increase in Head Start funding-which would continue to force centers to cut back their services.

In the next few days, both the Senate and the House will make a joint decision on the final bill, and we need to encourage them to include the full $200 million increase.

It's time that we start investing in our children by making Head Start a priority. Please take action by sending letters to your elected officials, urging them to fight for a $200 million increase in Head Start funding for fiscal year 2008.