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Congressional Pre-K Caucus Announces New Co-Chair, Congressman Rodney Davis

September 11, 2019

Washington, D.C.—Today, the Congressional Pre-K Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) and CongresswomanKatherine M. Clark (MA-05)announced that Congressman Rodney Davis (IL-13) will be the newest co-chair of the Congressional Pre-K Caucus. This bipartisan group of lawmakers seek to gain a deeper understanding of the benefits of early childhood education and promote policy recommendations and legislation in Congress to expand high-quality Pre-K access throughout the United States.

Congressman Davis has served in the Congress since 2013, where he sits on the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure and is a ranking member of the Committee on House Administration:

"Especially in the early and formative years, providing a high-quality educational foundation for our nation's children is among the most important things we can do to ensure their future success. Indeed, I believe it is our duty to pay it forward to America's youth so that someday they can have the opportunity to do the same for their children," said Congressman Cole. "Congressman Rodney Davis's elevation to co-chair of the Congressional Pre-K Caucus is another indication of its bipartisan mission and significance. As co-chairs, I look forward to working with him to promote policies that effectively and efficiently broaden early education opportunities for America's children."

"High-quality Pre-K sets America's youth up for academic success and America up for professional success. When we invest in the quality of our children's education, we invest in stronger workplaces and boost America's competitiveness around the globe," said Congressman Castro. "I look forward to working with Congressman Davis to increase awareness of the many benefits early education yields, energize conversations on the Hill and throughout our communities on access to Pre-K, and identify policies and legislation that improve learning in those pivotal years for all of our children. Investing in our children today lays the groundwork for a more prosperous tomorrow, and we will continue the work on this important caucus to do just that."

"All children deserve a shot at success, but right now, access to quality, affordable early education stands in their way," said Congresswoman Clark. "The Pre-K Caucus is dedicated to finding and implementing solutions that get our kids off waitlists and into classrooms. That means investing more in federal programs like CCDBG and Head Start, and showing we value our early education professionals by increasing salaries and putting resources into their training. Our children are our future. The Pre-K Caucus knows that we must demonstrate our commitment to them not only in words, but also in policies that brighten their futures and open the doors of opportunity to all."

"I've visited many Pre-K programs throughout my district, and I can tell you the difference they make in children's lives," said Congressman Davis. "I'm excited to join this bipartisan group of members to co-chair this important caucus and support early education for children in communities throughout the U.S. Helping children learn at a young age is not only an investment in their future, but an investment in a stronger workforce and the future of our country."

The Congressional Pre-K Caucus is a bipartisan caucus with 31 members who are dedicated to gaining a deeper understanding of the benefits of early childhood education and promoting policy recommendations to expand high-quality Pre-K access in the United States.

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Issues:Education