unskilled jobs. We enjoy their foods, their music, their participation in our civic life and churches. School populations have declined in the Adirondacks in recent years, but our school is blessed to have immigrant children helping to fill our classrooms and our hearts.

They are our neighbors and our friends.

According to TRAC (Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse) at Syracuse University, last month 48,870 people were in detention and 43.1% had NO criminal record. Not good.

I think most can agree that we have to reduce government spending and that we want to remove any waste, fraud and abuse from our federal agencies. We do not want those convicted of fraud to not pay the price as those pardoned recently by Trump - Todd and Julie Chrisley, Michael Grimm, Scott Jenkins, Devon Archer, Jason Galanis and Trevor Milton to name a few or Paul Walczak convicted of tax evasion who Trump had released from prison sentence and was allowed to keep $ 4.4 million that was owed to Social Security and Medicare from the payroll tax he stole.

We know we have to reduce the federal deficit. The Government Budget Office says the Republican bill now in the Senate will increase the deficit by $2 Trillion over 10 years. This is more deficit spending than was done in well over 200 years from Washington to Obama. Not good.

We need our children to be healthy mentally and physically so they can help themselves and others cope with this ever changing world. The proposed Trump administration budget that was recently leaked by news sources does not contain 2026 funding for the Head Start Program. We need to break the cycle of poverty by helping our children have social and academic success.

Head Start prepares children for school readiness, provides health services and nutrition and helps with growth in emotional and social development. Parents are supported by Head Start with services in housing and employment- thereby helping them provide a safe and supportive home for their children.  Head Start began in 1965 under President Johnson’s War on Poverty. Since then it has served 38 million children and families.

Warren County has Early Head Start for pregnant mothers and children from birth to 3 years and Head Start for children from 3 to 5 years.  It provides free services for 120 children and families with classrooms in Glens Falls, Chestertown, Lake Luzerne, Warrensburg and Lake George.  Not only are there classrooms but there are also dedicated Head Start Home Visitors who help parents with young children.  They encourage curiosity and love of learning- providing books, puzzles, games and toys - while helping parents see the importance of play in their child’s healthy development.

We need the next generation to be healthy, educated and self-reliant so they can contribute to the growth and prosperity of our nation.

It’s up to us to call or write to our congressional representatives telling them to fight to protect this necessary program.