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Discussion of local impact of rescinded federal aid freeze confirms the fight is not over

Written by Tanya Terry, with photos by Tanya Terry

Featured photo: Douglas E. Hibbs, principal and early childhood director of the Pumpkin Patch Early Childhood Center, Melissa Ricketts (at podium)- parent of two children in Head Start, as well as a Head Start staff member and Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) spoke out at a recent press conference about the local impact of currently rescinded the federal aid funding freeze.

On Friday, January 31, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell sided with a coalition of 22 states and temporarily blocked a federal aid funding freeze directed by the Trump administration. McConnell said in his ruling that the wide-ranging directive in the Office of Management and Budget memo appeared to violate the law.

Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (MI-08) joined McConell and other leaders across the state and nation in saying the two orders for a federal aid funding freeze that had been issued by the president’s administration within the week were causing panic and confusion.

Because of the freeze, which has since been rescinded – at least for the time being-Head Start and health care providers reported they were locked out of their federal portals.

In Flint, on January 31, McDonald Rivet held a press conference in which she further discussed the local impact of the recent freeze on federal funding, which she said she was still tracking. The press conference was held at the Thelma Buffy Elementary School building, which houses the Pumpkin Patch Child Care and Learning Center.

“It blows my mind that we’re going to take money from education,” said Douglas E. Hibbs, principal and early childhood director of the Pumpkin Patch Early Childhood Center.

Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet looks as Douglas C. Hibbs, principal and early childhood director of Pumpkin Patch Early Childhood Center, spoke about how a federal aid freeze could drastically affect early education.

Hibbs talked about the Flint Water Crisis, Covid-19, crime and economic challenges in the area. He noted the Flint community is “an incredibly proud community that works hard” and described Head Start as a “vital” for many local families.

“While the memo was rescinded, probably having more to do with legal action and that the court stopped it, we also thought immediately on the tails of the threats to cut vital programs,” McDonald Rivet said. “…Immediately after that memo came out, everything was frozen: Medicaid, incredibly essential services, our health clinics, our Meals on Wheels…”

Douglas E. Hibbs, principal and early childhood director of the Pumpkin Patch, Early Childhood Center, Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (speaking) and Melissa Ricketts parent of two children in Head Start, as well as a Head Start staff member

McDonald Rivet said although funding for these services and programs has been unfrozen, it has been made clear that the administration will attempt to freeze such funding again in the future.

McDonald Rivet explained the dollars that are appropriated by Congress are required to then be utilized in that way as a basic funding of the Congress. So, she discussed what she and other members of Congress plan to do when another funding freeze is attempted.

“We will immediately  work with partners and stakeholders and fight them for the courts,” Rivet said.

Congresswoman Kristen McDonald Rivet (at podium) and Melissa Ricketts parent of two children in Head Start, as well as a Head Start staff member

At the press conference, Melissa Ricketts, parent of two children in Head Start, as well as a Head Start staff member shared that when she heard about the federal funding freeze she was fearful. She did not know if the children she cares for through Head Start would have care and didn’t know if she would have a job.

“In order for me to find another job, I would have to find another source of childcare first,” added Ricketts. “This is not always the easiest thing to do considering many daycares have waitlists – very, very long waitlists. If I do not have a job I then cannot financially provide for my children. And this is very scary to think about.”

3-year-old Clover Thomas is the daughter of Melissa Ricketts, parent of two children in Head Start, as well as a Head Start staff member, who spoke at the recent press conference on how a federal aid funding freeze could affect her family.

Rickett said she “puts her heart and soul” into her work as a Head Start staff member in order to help ensure young children are prepared for the next phases of their education, including kindergarten.

A class at the Pumpkin Patch, Early Childhood Center

Constituents within the region who were affected by the federal funding freeze are urged to reach out to Congresswoman McDonald Rivet’s office through this link, or by calling the Flint office at (810) 238-8627.

 

 

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