Westbank Louisiana News

May 22, 2024

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, criticized the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) proposed rule that he claims violates federal law, increases the cost of federal Head Start programs significantly, and reduces educational opportunities for 110,700 children.

The proposed rule from the Biden administration seeks to impose federally mandated wage increases for staff, including a $15 federal minimum wage for all support staff. According to Cassidy, this policy contravenes federal law where Congress explicitly set a wage range considering location and average compensation in the area. The proposed wage increase could raise costs for Head Start programs by $116 million annually, potentially reducing funded slots for low-income children by 15 percent or 110,700 children.

“While the administration finds it acceptable to impose this policy tradeoff on Head Start programs and serve 110,700 fewer children, I find this unforced tradeoff unacceptable,” wrote Dr. Cassidy. “Reducing the number of low-income children who can benefit from Head Start is outrageous... These sorts of decisions should be left to Congress, not to unelected bureaucrats.”

“In conclusion, removing local control over Head Start programs and reducing the number of children served are unacceptable tradeoffs,” continued Dr. Cassidy. “I urge the administration to not finalize this rule in its current form.”

In his letter addressed to Acting Assistant Secretary Hild, Cassidy expressed concerns about the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) titled “Supporting the Head Start Workforce and Consistent Quality Programming,” published by HHS on November 20, 2023. He argued that the NPRM contradicts the mission of Head Start to promote school readiness among young children from low-income families by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Cassidy highlighted that the proposed rule includes several new requirements initially part of the Build Back Better legislative agenda. He suggested that at one time the administration recognized its policy goals exceeded HHS’s statutory authority but now asserts otherwise under different interpretations of existing statutes.

He pointed out three main statutory issues:

1. The statute sets a cap on wages ensuring educators are not compensated above certain thresholds.

2. The statute mandates meeting or exceeding only the federal minimum wage.

3. The statute encourages but does not require salary scales.

Cassidy also criticized what he termed "Bidenflation," arguing that inflation under President Biden's administration has exacerbated financial challenges for Head Start programs due to increased costs in utilities and groceries.

“As far as the practical effect of the NPRM,” wrote Cassidy, “the administration concedes that the proposed rule’s new financial burdens on programs will reduce available slots for children by 15 percent.” He reiterated his stance against such reductions in service capacity and emphasized that significant policy decisions should be made through Congressional debate rather than administrative action.

Cassidy concluded his letter urging HHS not to finalize the rule in its current form.

For more updates from HELP Republicans visit their website or Twitter at @GOPHELP.