Statement from Children's Defense Fund President Marian Wright Edelman in Response to House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan's "Expanding Opportunity in America - A Discussion Draft from the House Budget Committee.

WASHINGTON, July 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "House Budget Chair Paul Ryan's draft is a small, mean and worn idea that picks on poor children and families while not asking for one cent of sacrifice from rich corporations and rich individuals. His proposal would dismantle the safety net that is working. Head Start works, it gets poor children ready for school. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) works, it keeps the wolves of hunger at bay. Title I works, the funds are going to help our most disadvantaged schools and students, but the funds need to be increased and accountability tightened. I look forward to the next draft from Chairman Ryan that is fair to poor children and families and asks the rich corporations and individuals to pay their fair share."

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SOURCE Children's Defense Fund