Congressman Neguse one of 8 Lawmakers Recognized By Head Start Association For Commitment to Kids and Families

The Protecting Our Most Important Students Early (PROMISE) Awarded recognizes Congresspeople who work to protect at-risk children nationwide

Lafayette, CO—Congressman Joe Neguse has been selected as a recipient of the National Head Start Association (NHSA)’s 2021 PROMISE award for his work in protecting kids and families throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Once a year, the NHSA presents members of Congress with PROMISE Awards to recognize their role in progressing the mission of the NHSA to help all children reach their full potential. Congressman Joe Neguse is just one of 8 members of Congress to receive this award in 2021 due to his work advocating for children from at-risk backgrounds already struggling to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Amidst a once-in-a-century health and economic crisis, protecting our kids and families and ensuring they have the resources they need to succeed has never been more important,” said Congressman Joe Neguse. “We’ve worked over the past year to ensure our child care facilities are equipped with PPE, staff and resources and that our kids are not going hungry through our work to expand the SNAP food program and support our local food banks. I am honored to be recognized by the National Head Start Association with the 2021 Promise Award. Championing our nation’s kids and families will always be a central priority of our work in Congress.”

In December of 2020, Congressman Neguse and Congressman John Katko of New York introduced bipartisan legislation to provide $1.7 billion in COVID-19 relief funds to pay for staffing, personal protective equipment, and other needs at child care facilities throughout the country. This act, the Jumpstart for Head Start Act, provides resources to help keep childcare a priority and ensure children thrive in the post-pandemic world. Child services and education are industries hit particularly hard by the pandemic, and satisfying the needs of youth in their early ages can help put children on paths to success.

The NHSA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring every child, despite the circumstances they are born into, has the opportunities and resources in order to succeed. Head Start has prioritized children, families, and their communities for over 50 years by working with lawmakers to establish policies that will benefit the development of every child.