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Originally Processed With FOIA(s): FOIA Number: S FOIA MARKER This is not a textual record. This is used as an administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential Library Staff. Record Group/Collection: George H.W. Bush Presidential Records Collection/Office of Origin: Speechwriting, White House Office of Series: Grant, Mary Kate, Files Subseries: Subject File, 1988-1991 OA/ID Number: 13881 Folder ID Number: 13881-005 Folder Title: Head Start, 25 Years, 5/24/90 Stack: Row: Section: Shelf: Position: G 19 2 7 6 May 24 / Administration of George Bush, 1990 over the past 12 months. Approximately lateral development bank loans to China Representati- 17,000 Chinese nationals received U.S. visas except those aimed at addressing basic your coming to emigrate from the mainland in 1989, human needs. U.S. policy remains that It's a great most for the purpose of family reunification. normal relations with China are not possible Connie Horn The commercial opportunities created by until China takes further major steps to re- both of you MFN trade status give millions of Chinese spect human rights and returns to the path Connie, as r workers and thousands of enterprises a of reform. HHS for wh stake in China's market-oriented reforms your continu and opening to the West. They also make possible a a wide range of contacts with First of all, Americans and American institutions that Start. Like a expose Chinese students, workers, teachers, Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater celebrate bo and officials to our free enterprise system on President Bush's Meeting With where we wil and political values. MFN status is essential Provisional President Ertha Pascal In May 19 for maintaining our commercial relationship Trouillot of Haiti right here in with China and to avoid a costly trade war May 24, 1990 came into bei that will hurt business interests and con- first spoke of sumers in both countries. In 1989 U.S.- President Bush met at 10 a.m. in the soon propose: China trade amounted to $18 billion, and Oval Office with Ertha Pascal Trouillot, that the pro China was our 10th largest trading partner Provisional President of Haiti. President words-"resc worldwide. Bush expressed admiration and respect for poverty which MFN also bolsters confidence in Hong President Trouillot and welcomed her com- all their lives. Kong's free enterprise economy, which is mitment, and that of the Haitian people, to designed to I heavily dependent on U.S.-China trade and hold a free and fair election. In this regard, with their cla the health of industries in southern China. President Bush took note of the invitation Since that Not to continue MFN for China would de- by the Haitian Government to the U.N. and over 11 millic liver a terrible blow to Hong Kong, costing OAS to provide technical assistance and hensive devel as many as 20,000 jobs and reducing the election observers. President Bush ex- a million low colony's GNP by as much as 2.5 percent. pressed hope that an election date be set Hong Kong should not be the innocent Head Start pr soon and that the Haitian Government and victim of our disappointment with the Chi- with prescho Armed Forces take all necessary steps to but with hea nese administration. enhance respect for human rights and We have also heard support expressed for well: Virtually ensure a secure environment for the elec- continuation of China's MFN status from Head Start g tion campaign and the balloting. President Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the Republic need, and for Bush said the United States will support of Korea, Japan, and others in the Asian- gives them the Haiti's transition to democracy with elec- Pacific region. tion aid. Everyone as As we approach the anniversary of the The two Presidents also discussed Haiti's that works for tragedy in Beijing, we pay tribute to its economic situation and U.S. assistance. We educational p victims by continuing to sustain as high a have announced $18 million in PL-480 food ing success in level of people-to-people contact and com- assistance to Haiti ($6 million now and $12 families by off merce as we can. The U.S. Government in- million in the first quarter of fiscal year velopment pr tends to press vigorously during the coming builds self-con! 1991) and are examining other ways to year for significant improvement in China's assist Haiti's development. commitment 1 human rights practices. We want to see lives of the cl China's people enjoy the full scope of thousands of human rights to which people all over the where Head world are entitled. Remarks at a White House Ceremony right back to In the notification to Congress, the Presi- Celebrating the 25th Anniversary of strong familie dent reaffirmed that the sanctions against Head Start Today almos China he authorized in June 1989 remain in May 24, 1990 Start staff men force. They include suspension of arms ex- rent or forme ports, the suspension of high-level govern- Well, good morning, and welcome to this selves-80,000 ment exchanges, and opposition to all multi- beautiful morning in the Rose Garden. And Boggus, here 828 Administration of George Bush, 1990 / May 24 loans to China Representative Kildee's here. I appreciate president of the National Head Start Asso- addressing basic your coming, sir. And to others, welcome. ciation. Where is she? You stand up. Thank y remains that It's a great pleasure to have you here. you. are not possible Connie Horner, Mary Gall, great to see Or Claude Endfield of White River, Ari- najor steps to re- both of you. Let me congratulate you, zona. When she enrolled her child in a urns to the path Connie, as number two in this enormous White Mountain Apache Indian Head Start HHS for what she's doing, and, Mary, to program in 1973, she was unemployed. She your continued commitment to our young. became a volunteer at the Head Start First of all, happy 25th birthday to Head center, then a Head Start teacher, and Start. Like all birthday parties, today we today is program chairman of the early tary Fitzwater celebrate both where we've been and child development department at North- ting With where we will be tomorrow. land Pioneer College in Arizona. Head ha Pascal In May 1965, on a beautiful spring day Start, you see, gave her the skills and confi- right here in the Rose Garden, a great idea dence she needed to turn her whole life came into being. President Lyndon Johnson around. first spoke of a new initiative that he would But as vital as the parents and the staff 10 a.m. in the soon propose: Head Start. And he said then are to the success of Head Start, we must Pascal Trouillot, that the program would-here were his especially congratulate the kids, Many- Haiti. President words-"rescue these children from the some of you kids here are grown up now- and respect for poverty which otherwise could pursue them but they are grown up now, and because comed her com- all their lives. The project," he went on, "is they were given an equal chance at the aitian people, to designed to put them on an even footing starting block, they crossed the finish line 1. In this regard, with their classmates as they enter school." on their own and most of them winners. of the invitation Since that day, Head Start has reached Seba Johnson, for example, attended to the U.N. and over 11 million children, providing compre- Head Start as a child in the Virgin Islands assistance and hensive development services to nearly half and, at the age of 14, became the first black lent Bush ex- a million low-income children every year. woman skier to participate in the winter tion date be set Head Start provides these children not only Olympics, representing the Virgin Islands. Government and with preschool education and social skills Today she lives in Nevada, where she is cessary steps to but with health and nutrition services as training for the next winter Olympics, and nan rights and well. Virtually all of the children enrolled in is volunteering her time to help celebrate ent for the elec- Head Start get the medical attention they Head Start's 25th anniversary. loting. President need, and for many children, Head Start Carlos Jimenez of Meadville, Pennsylva- tes will support gives them their best meal of the day. nia, who was a Head Start student back in eracy with elec- Everyone agrees Head Start is a program 1977. This year Carlos is graduating from that works for children by enhancing their high school, third in his class of 320. A Na- discussed Haiti's assistance. We educational performance and really foster- tional Honor Society member, Carlos will in PL-480 food ing success in life. Head Start also works for attend college in California this fall. families by offering child care and child de- Or another example, Carl Brenner, who on now and $12 velopment programs for parents, which is with us today. Carl? Where's Carl? Right r of fiscal year builds self-confidence, and by encouraging a here. Oh, here's our man, right here. He's other ways to commitment to improve their lives and the now going to be performing. Also a Head lives of the children. And it works for the Start alumnus. Graduated first in his high thousands of communities nationwide school class. Now a senior cadet out at the where Head Start graduates give so much U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado. se Ceremony right back to society by helping to build These kids earned a lot of attention with liversary of strong families and strong neighborhoods. their brilliant success stories, but there are Today almost a third of the 80,000 Head also quiet ones, special children that other- Start staff members across America are cur- wise might get overlooked. Take the exam- rent or former Head Start parents them- ple of Timothy Combs from Buffalo, West welcome to this selves-80,000-parents like Eugenia Virginia, a child born with Down's syn- Garden. And Boggus, here with us today, who is now drome who wasn't yet talking when he en- 829 May 24 / Administration of George Bush, 1990 rolled in Head Start at the age of 3. Head Proclamation 6140-25th Anniversary and volunteers Start provided Timothy with speech ther- of Head Start, 1990 success. Today apy, help for his hearing problem. And 2 May 24, 1990 than enrolled years later, Timothy was able to enroll in grams, and the public school, where he continues to get the By the President of the United States unteers than special attention that began in Head Start. of America Head Start not There:are so many stories to tell and so ample of the go many Americans to thank in Head Start A Proclamation by concerned centers all around the country: In fact, over Since its inception 25 years ago, Head at the commu 600,000 committed volunteers, each one a Start has helped to put millions of disadvan- strates that inc Point of Light, are giving their all to make taged children on the path to success. Of- are not barriers Head Start a national treasure. The kids we fering comprehensive health and nutrition taged children have with us today are from Head Start programs, as well as educational and social more doctors a programs throughout the Washington area. services, Head Start helps to ensure that guage therapis And by getting them ready to learn today, these children enter school ready to learn. professionals le we ensure that they too will have success Too often, children from low-income fam- Start. stories to share tomorrow. ilies begin school with significant physical Because Hea It's because of children like these, and needs, as well as a lack of optimism and children enter parents and staff like many of you here, self-confidence. Head Start not only empha- learn, strength that at the historic education summit last sizes proper nutrition and the early identifi- program is an is September in Charlottesville I asked every cation and treatment of health problems, al strategy to p' Governor in the Nation to join in our com- but also offers disadvantaged children a va- can education. - mitment to quality programs like Head riety of learning experiences designed to I have propose Start and give every poor child a chance to help them grow in curiosity and self- the budget for start school ready to learn. We proposed— esteem. Promoting the intellectual and These funds we our administration-the largest one-time emotional growth of these children, as well 70 percent of funding increase in the history of Head as their physical well-being, Head Start has they start kinde Start, a half a billion dollars. And I know been a model for child development pro- The Congress that the Congress will join me in giving grams. 490, has auth Head Start the best 25th birthday present Head Start has effectively included chil- President to issu possible, enough-and I salute Representa- dren with disabilities and assisted them in ance of the 25tl tive Kildee in this regard-enough money obtaining the social and cognitive skills Now, Therefo to enroll as many as 180,000 more children needed for achievement in school. Current- dent of the Un in this successful program. ly, more than 13 percent of Head Start par- As they say, that's a gift that keeps on ticipants are children with disabilities. Head hereby urge all Start staff members cooperate with other 25th anniversary giving by enriching the lives of the kids, community agencies as they work to meet priate programs strengthening our families, and building our the special needs of these children. in recognition 0 communities. To everyone who has support- done and contir ed Head Start for so many years, thank you, An essential element of every Head Start children and the and God bless each and every one of you. program is the sustained involvement of In Witness WI Thank you very, very much. parents. Because they are their children's first and greatest teachers, parents play a my hand this tw very important role in planning and imple- the year of our I menting Head Start programs-either ninety, and of Note: The President spoke at 11:04 a.m. in through membership on Head Start Policy United States of the Rose Garden at the White House. In his Councils or through participation in class- and fourteenth. remarks, he referred to Constance Horner room activities. In fact, parents of present and Mary S. Gall, Under Secretary and As- and former students constitute more than sistant Secretary for Human Development one-third of Head Start's paid staff. Services at the Department of Health and While government leadership is impor- [Filed with the ( Human Services, respectively. tant, the caring and dedication of parents ter, 4:21 p.m., M. 830 staffed for tomorrow (Tues) Grant/Dooley May 21, 1990 2pm Draft two A:START BRIEF REMARKS: 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF HEAD START THE ROSE GARDEN THURSDAY, MAY 24, 1990 TIME? ((Acknowledgements)) First of all, Happy 25th Birthday to Head Start! Like all birthday parties, today we celebrate both where we've been and where we are headed. In May, 1965, on a beautiful spring day right here in the Rose Garden, a great idea became a working reality -- President Lyndon Johnson signed the law that created Head Start. He said then that the program would "rescue these children from the poverty which otherwise could pursue them all their lives. The project is designed to put them on an even footing with their classmates as they enter school." Since that day, Head Start has "rescued" over 11 million children, providing comprehensive development services to nearly half-a-million low-income children and their families every year. Head Start provides these children not only with preschool education, but with health and nutrition services as well. Ninety-nine percent of the children enrolled in Head Start get the medical attention they need. And for many children, Head Start gives them their best meal of the day. Everyone agrees Head Start is a program that works for children -- by enhancing their school performance, fostering success in life, and bringing children with disabilities into the 2 mainstream that much faster. Head Start also works for families -- by offering educational and career opportunities for parents, by building self-confidence in parents who participate in the programs, and by encouraging a commitment to improve their lives. And it works for the thousands of communities nationwide where Head Start "graduates" give so much back to society, by building strong families and solid neighborhoods. Today, over a third of the 80,000 Head Start staff members across America are former Head Start parents themselves. Parents like Eugenia Boggus, here with us today, who is now president of the National Head Start Association. or Claude Endfield -- when she enrolled her child in the White Mountain Apache Indian Head Start program in 1973, she was unemployed. She became a volunteer at the Head Start Center, then a Head Start teacher, and today is program chairman of the Early Childhood Department at Northland Pioneer College in Arizona. Head Start gave her the skills and confidence she needed to turn her life around. But as vital as the parents and the staff are to the success of Head Start, we must congratulate the kids too. Many are grown up now, and because they were given an equal chance at the starting block -- they crossed the finish line on their own, and most of them winners. Seba Johnson, for example, attended Head Start as a child in the Virgin Islands and, at the age of fourteen, became the first black woman skier to participate in the winter Olympics, 3 representing the Virgin Islands. Today she lives in Nevada, where she is training for the next winter Olympics -- ( (presumably with the Jamaican bobsled team)) -- and is volunteering her time to help celebrate Head Start's twenty- fifth anniversary. And Carlos Jimenez who was a Head Start student in Pennsylvania in 1977. This year, Carlos is graduating from high school, third in his class of 320. A National Honor Society member, Carlos will attend college in California this fall. Or Carl Brenner, also a Head Start alumnus, who graduated first in his high school class and is now a senior cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy. These kids earned a lot of attention with their brilliant success stories. But there are also the quiet ones, special cases that otherwise might get overlooked. Take the example of Timothy Combs, a child born with Down's Syndrome who wasn't yet talking when he enrolled in Head Start at the age of three. Head Start provided Timothy with speech therapy and help for his ear problems. Two years later, Timothy was able to enroll in public school, where he continues to get the special attention that began in Head Start. There are so many stories to tell, and untold numbers of Americans to thank in Head Start centers around the country. These committed individuals have given their all to make Head Start a national treasure. The kids we have with us today are from Head Start programs throughout the Washington area, and by 4 getting them "ready to learn" today, we ensure that they too will have success stories to share tomorrow. It is because of children like these -- and parents and staff like you -- that at the historic Education Summit last September, I asked every Governor in the Nation to join in our commitment to Head Start. We proposed the largest one-time funding increase in the history of Head Start -- a half billion dollars. I know that the Congress will join me in giving Head Start the best twenty-fifth birthday present possible -- enough money to enroll as many as 180,000 more children in Head Start. As they say, that's a gift that "keeps on giving" -- by enriching the lives of our children, strengthening our families, and building our communities. To everyone who has supported Head Start for so many years, thank you, and God bless each one of you. # # #