Congresswoman Hirono Honored as National
“Pre-K Champion” of 2008
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) was honored Wednesday as a 2008 “Pre-K Champion” 
by Pre-K Now, a national preschool advocacy organization established in 2005. “In the past, we have only honored states with the Pre-K Champion Award; this is the first time that we have presented the Award to an individual member of congress. It is highly unusual for a freshman member to accomplish what Congresswoman Hirono has done and we wanted to recognize her extraordinary leadership, strong initiative and her ability to garner support for her bill.” said Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now. “There are nearly 800 bills pending before the House Education and Labor Committee, and her determination and ability to work with the leadership brought the PRE-K bill forward as one of only 25 to be marked up in committee.”
Picture Above: Rep. Mazie K. Hirono and Libby Doggett, executive director of Pre-K Now
Hirono said “The first five years of life are crucially important to brain development and early learning. Research shows quality early education enables children to succeed in school and in life. It is the best investment we can make in the future of our children. Increasing numbers of policymakers and leaders from the business community agree, and are coming together to support quality pre-k for all of our children.”
Picture: Libby Doggett, Congresswoman Hirono and Jacqueline Rose, 2007-08 National Head Start Fellow from
On June 25, the House Education and Labor Committee approved Hirono’s H.R. 3289, the Providing Resources Early for Kids Act (PRE-K Act), with a bi-partisan vote of 31-11.
This bill, with 120 co-sponsors, would establish a federal grant program to support quality early childhood educational opportunities for more children. The grants would provide incentives to states to ensure that their pre-k programs meet children’s developmental and educational needs. The bill authorizes grants totaling $500 million each year to reduce student-teacher ratios, increase the number of early childhood educators with bachelor degrees, in addition to other quality improvements.
###
