Head Start Community and Champions Gather on Capitol Hill

On September 17, more than 200 members and staff from Head Start programs across the country gathered in the Rayburn House Office Building for a Stand for Head Start reception, hosted by First Five Years Fund (FFYF), Save the Children, and the National Head Start Association (NHSA). The event brought together the Head Start community with Congressional staffers to celebrate the critical role Head Start plays in supporting children, families, and communities nationwide.

Attendees heard from several key Congressional champions of early learning. Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), a founding member of the bipartisan Head Start to Congress Caucus and a proud Head Start alum, spoke about the transformative power of the program and why it continues to resonate so deeply with families across America. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), co-chair of the Congressional Pre-K and Child Care Caucus, highlighted the broad bipartisan support for Head Start and its proven track record of helping children thrive and parents succeed.

Also joining the event was Rep. Danny Davis (IL-07), a longtime advocate for child care and early learning, whose steadfast leadership has advanced Head Start and early childhood programs for decades.

The reception was not only a celebration, but also a reminder of Head Start’s enduring popularity and impact. For nearly 60 years, Head Start has provided children from low-income families with education, health, nutrition, and family support services, laying the foundation for lifelong success.

As one of the most effective and widely supported early childhood programs in the nation, Head Start continues to unite policymakers, practitioners, and families around a shared vision: ensuring every child has the opportunity to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.