We the People Wednesdays Action for August 19
ACTION 1:
Head Start is a popular and long-established early childhood education program that serves the country’s neediest children. It has received bipartisan support until now. The Trump administration, after failed attempts to zero out Head Start’s funding, has proposed regulatory changes that will gut most of the program’s requirements, including: limits on class sizes; requirements for vision and hearing screenings and tooth brushing; teaching standards for math, literacy, and social and emotional development; and providing access for children with disabilities. Earlier this year The National Head Start Association honored Senator Dave McCormick with an award in recognition of his steadfast leadership and support of Head Start programs.
Write to Senator McCormick to stand by his convictions and protect Head Start. Modify this sample text:
Dear Senator McCormick,
Thank you for being a champion for Head Start. Oppose the administration’s gutting of Head Start!
Sincerely,
<your name and zip>
Senator John Fetterman
142 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
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ACTION 2:
Governor Josh Shapiro is facing pressure from private school voucher supporters to opt into the federal school voucher program included in Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” This program provides a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit up to $1,700 to parents toward private school tuition. Governors must actively opt their states into the program annually to participate. The program will direct money out of the U.S. Treasury and into private and religious schools and the organizations that funnel money to them. States will not be allowed to impose their own oversight, which means funding can go to schools that discriminate on the basis of disability, religion, LGBTQ+ status, pregnancy or abortion, or a subjective determination of good fit.
Write to Governor Shapiro to reject the Trump voucher program. Modify this sample text:
Dear Governor Shapiro,
Keep Pennsylvania out of Trump’s private school voucher program.
Sincerely,
<your name and zip>
Governor Josh Shapiro
501 North 3rd Street
508 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120