Scott to Visit Head Start Program in Newport News for Read Across America Day, Will Also Highlight Impact of Sequestration

WASHINGTON, DC – Tomorrow, March 1st, Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott will visit the Hampton Ave Center Head Start program in Newport News and read to students as a part of Read Across America Day. The Congressman will also meet with administrators to discuss the impact sequestration will have on Head Start programs in Virginia and across the nation.

"Head Start and Early Head Start are vital programs that provide important services to at-risk children that dramatically help improve their long-term educational outcomes," said Congressman Scott. "The automatic across-the-board budget cuts through sequestration that take effect tomorrow will have a devastating impact on Head Start and Early Head Start. Here in Virginia, these budget cuts will deny approximately 1,000 children access to these critical early education services. It's an embarrassment that the leadership of the House of Representatives refused to consider any legislation to cancel the sequester. Children should not be asked to help bear the burden of these unnecessary budget cuts."

Congressman Scott warned that these cuts would be a predictable consequence of Congress first passing $3.9 trillion in tax cuts on January 1st of this year instead of addressing sequestration.

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