Head Start California Applauds 190 Members of Congress Demanding Withdrawal of Proposed Federal Head

October 13, 2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  

Head Start California Applauds 190 Members of Congress Demanding Withdrawal of Proposed Federal Head Start Rule Change

SACRAMENTO, CA — Head Start California welcomed a sweeping effort by 190 Democratic members of Congress, including 31 members of California’s congressional delegation, to protect Head Start’s foundational and evidence-backed standards that ensure that all Head Start programs offer high-quality and comprehensive services. 

The 190 members sent a joint letter on October 6, 2026 to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., demanding the immediate withdrawal of a proposed federal rule change, and detailing why gutting Head Start Program Performance Standards would negatively impact the children and families that Head Start is intended to serve. 

Representatives from California who signed the letter include U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Representatives Julia Brownley, Salud O. Carbajal, Judy Chu, Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr., J. Luis Correa, Jim Costa, Mark DeSaulnier, Laura Friedman, John Garamendi, Robert Garcia, Jimmy Gomez, Jared Huffman, Sara Jacobs, Ro Khanna, Ted Lieu, Zoe Lofgren, Doris O. Matsui, Kevin Mullin, Jimmy Panetta, Nancy Pelosi, Scott H. Peters, Linda T. Sánchez, Brad Sherman, Lateefah Simon, Mark Takano, Mike Thompson, Norma J. Torres, Derek Tran, and George Whitesides.

The full text of their letter is accessible online here.

“We are profoundly grateful to these 190 members of Congress who are standing up for the children and families served by Head Start,” said Melanee Cottrill, Executive Director of Head Start California. “ HHS’s proposed rule changes threaten the safety, health, and developmental success of tens of thousands of California children served by Head Start. This letter from so many members of Congress sends a clear message: we will not allow essential, evidence-backed, comprehensive standards that support the growth, education, and well-being of vulnerable children and families be dismantled.”

MEDIA CONTACT: 

Melanee Cottrill, Head Start California Executive Director, melanee@headstartca.org  

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