Y=Yes N=No X=Not Voting
HEAD START: Voting 217 for and 216 against, the House on July 25
passed a bill (HR 2210) reauthorizing the pre-school Head Start
program through fiscal 2008. The bill allows religious
organizations to discriminate in Head Start hiring on the basis of
religion. It converts Head Start to a block-grant program in eight
yet-to-be-selected states, sets higher standards for professional
staff and places greater emphasis on literacy skills.
| District | House Member | Party | Home Town | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jeff Miller | R | Chumuckla | Y |
| 2 | Alan Boyd | D | Monticello | N |
| 3 | Corrine Brown | D | Jacksonville | Y |
| 4 | Ander Crenshaw | R | Jacksonville | N |
| 5 | Ginny Brown-Waite | R | Brooksville | N |
| 6 | Cliff Stearns | R | Ocala | N |
| 7 | John Mica | R | Winter Park | N |
| 8 | Ric Keller | R | Orlando | N |
| 9 | Michael Bilirakis | R | Palm Harbor | N |
| 10 | Bill Young | R | Indian Rocks Beach | N |
| 11 | Jim Davis | D | Tampa | N |
| 12 | Adam Putnam | R | Bartow | N |
| 13 | Katherine Harris | R | Sarasota | N |
| 14 | Porter Goss | R | Sanibel | N |
| 15 | Dave Weldon | R | Palm Bay | N |
| 16 | Mark Foley | R | West Palm Beach | N |
| 17 | Kendrick Meek | D | Miami | X |
| 18 | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen | R | Miami | N |
| 19 | Robert Wexler | D | Boca Raton | Y |
| 20 | Peter Deutsch | D | Fort Lauderdale | Y |
| 21 | Lincoln Diaz-Balart | R | Miami | N |
| 22 | Clay Shaw | R | Fort Lauderdale | N |
| 23 | Alcee Hastings | D | Miramar | N |
| 24 | Tom Feeney | R | Oviedo | N |
| 25 | Mario Diaz-Balart | R | Miami | N |
The 38-year-old Great Society program supplies impoverished
children with medical, nutritional, instructional and social
services. This bill, which awaits Senate action, authorizes
spending of $6.9 billion in fiscal 2004. But actual outlays will
depend on how Head Start fares in competition for limited federal
funds.
To qualify for a block grant, a state would have to commit itself
to adequate funding and service levels as it combines Head Start
with state-run pre-school programs.
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
