March 27, 2018

Congressional Pre-K Caucus Announces New Co-Chair, Congressman Kevin Yoder

Washington, D.C.—Today, the Congressional Pre-K Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20); Congresswoman Katherine M. Clark (MA-05); and Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) announced that Congressman Kevin Yoder (KS-03) will replace former Congressman Richard Hanna (NY-22) as the new Co-Chair of the Caucus. This bipartisan group of lawmakers seek to gain a deeper understanding of the benefits of early childhood education and promote policy recommendations and legislation in Congress to expand high-quality pre-k access throughout the United States.

“High-quality pre-k sets America’s youth up for professional and academic success. As we invest in the quality of our children’s education, we too invest in stronger workplaces and boost America’s competitiveness around the world,” said Rep. Castro. “I look forward to working with Congressman Yoder to increase awareness of the many benefits early education yields, energize conversations on the Hill and throughout our communities on access to pre-k, and identify policies and legislation that improve early learning across the United States. Investing in our children today lays the groundwork for a more prosperous tomorrow, and I look forward to continuing the work on this Caucus that does just that.”

“High-quality early childhood education and care is the best investment we can make in our children and in our economy. Not only does it ensure every child has an equal opportunity to succeed, it also grants their parents the opportunity to pursue careers and educations of their own,” said Rep. Clark. “Congressman Yoder’s addition to this Caucus is a welcome one, and I look forward to partnering with him to ensure that the goals we’ve set in the interest of children and families across the country are made a reality.”

“Early childhood education is the foundation for success, and investments spent on early childhood education ensure that our nation’s youth is prepared for the future. I am pleased to have my colleague Rep. Kevin Yoder join the Pre-K Caucus as co-chair, and I look forward to working with him as we promote the valuable priority of quality education,” said Rep. Cole.

“Every child in every cul de sac in America deserves the same opportunities to succeed. A great early-childhood education is an invaluable building block in the foundation for a healthy life and a successful career. The more we can do on Capitol Hill to provide these opportunities, the better our nation will be as a result. I’m proud to be a part of this effort and excited for my new role as a Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pre-K Caucus,” said Rep Yoder.

The Congressional Pre-K Caucus is a bipartisan caucus with 31 members who are dedicated to gaining a deeper understanding of the benefits of early childhood education and promoting policy recommendations to expand high-quality pre-k access in the United States.

# # #