Congressional Briefing on "Early Learning and Care: A Matter of National Security"

Co-chairs of Congressional Pre-K Caucus join Mission: Readiness members at briefing

Mission: Readiness held a Congressional briefing on June 13 about the importance of early learning and care programs for strengthening national security. The event highlighted how federal support for preschool programs through Head Start, the Child Care and Development Block Grant, and Preschool Development Grants can help ensure that children are prepared to succeed in school, the civilian workforce, and the military for those who choose to serve.

The briefing, titled “Early Learning and Care: A Matter of National Security,” was led by a distinguished group of panelists who provided evidence and firsthand experience on the importance of early learning and care to improving academic achievement and strengthening national security. Jenny Wing Harper, Federal Policy Director at Council for a Strong America, moderated the panel that included Lieutenant General (Ret.) Paul T. Mikolashek, Rear Admiral (Ret.) Casey W. Coane, Brigadier General (Ret.) Robert Gaylord, and Sandra Bishop-Josef, Ph.D., Research Director at Council for a Strong America.

The briefing was widely attended and featured remarks from U.S. Representatives Tom Cole (R-OK) and Joaquin Castro (D-TX), co-chairs of the Congressional Pre-K Caucus. Representative Cole plays an important role in setting the federal funding for early learning and care programs as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. Oklahoma Mission: Readiness members also met with Chairman Cole in his Norman, Oklahoma district office in May.

Congressman Tom Cole: “Pre-K is a bipartisan issue because the research is compelling.”
Congressman Joaquin Castro speaks during briefing on importance of early education for national security
Lieutenant General (Ret.) Paul Mikolashek speaks during Congressional briefing. Next to him is Jenny Wing Harper, Federal Policy Director at Council for a Strong America.
Brigadier General (Ret.) Robert Gaylord holds up new Mission: Readiness report on early education and national security.
Dr. Sandra Bishop-Josef discusses the research showing quality early education programs can support long-term outcomes needed to qualify for military and other careers.
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Casey Coane urges Congress to prioritize investments in early childhood programs to strengthen our military preparedness and national security.