Rep. Panetta Launches Push to Strengthen Head Start Programs In California

Washington, DC – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) joined his colleagues in introducing legislation to ensure the district's Head Start programs receive uninterrupted federal logistical support. The Every Child Deserves Head Start Act of 2025 would codify the Office of Head Start within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and restore its total number of regional offices to 12 following the Administration's sudden shuttering of five offices earlier this year, including the regional office in San Francisco that served all of California. 

"Head Start not only helps working families afford quality childcare, it also provides our children with a foundation of early educational support that they can use to help them succeed," said Representative Panetta. "Although the Administration continues to pull out the rug from underneath these types of prized organizations, Congress will continue to fight back with legislation like the Every Child Deserves Head Start Act so that parents have the freedom and flexibility that they need to provide for their families. We will continue to push back to protect our students, support our parents, and make it more affordable to live and work in California."

The sudden closure of the San Francisco-based regional Head Start office left programs in California's 19th District and across the state in limbo, leading to service disruptions, delays in funding and regulatory oversight, and a significant reduction in services to students. The Every Child Deserves Head Start Act would prevent future gaps in support for the region's Head Start programs, allowing for congressional oversight into any future restructuring of the Office and requiring notification and justification for any regional office closures. 

Representative Panetta has been a staunch advocate and supporter of Head Start programs in the district, having additionally cosponsored the Head Start Shutdown Protection Act, and pushed for Head Start funding in the annual appropriations process. Head Start programs across the country support children's growth from birth to age five through services centered around early learning and development, health, and family well-being. These programs help families in California's 19th District holistically by making childcare and education more affordable and accessible for working families.

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