The clock is ticking before some valley parents may have to find somewhere other than Head Start to send their children and many don’t have an alternative.
A group of about two dozen parents from Harlingen to Brownsville and everywhere in between said desperate times call for desperate measures.
"Please stop these cuts," says a woman who had several children go through local Head Start centers.
"It will make it a lot worse and what are we going to do without it", asks a mother who works and sends her children to a Head Start.
They're not even prepared to start planning in the event their children's Head Start was to shut down.
"My kids have learned a lot and if they don't go to Head Start, I'm going to lose my job I'll have to stay at home and who knows what's going to happen."
Isabel Curiel and several other mothers of kids in head start programs across the valley are taking their concerns to the office of US Congressman Blake Farenthold after learning the House of Representatives, including the Republican congressman, approved a bill which would cut discretionary funds including head start programs.
Congressman Farenthold wasn't in his Brownsville office, but his aides did open up the doors to protestors to let them sign in as a way to get their voices heard.
His field representative told Action 4 News the list of names will be viewed by the congressman.
In the meantime, with fears that cuts could mean head starts would lose a thousand slots for children, moms and even kids are hoping this bill doesn't make it pass the senate.
“I may have to go to food stamps," says Curiel.
"This is the only thing we can leave behind for our children. We are all low income people so the education is the best thing we can leave for our children," says another mother.
Congressman Farenthold did call Action 4 News and said he was elected to get government spending under control and even some programs he likes are going to have to be cut.
"I feel like every program in the federal government has to do more with less and every program including Head Start needs to be cut, but I certainly don't think the program should be eliminated," said Farenthold over the phone.
There might still be hope for children since there is speculation that the bill will not pass the senate or get signed by President Obama.
The senate returns February 28th and will have only four legislative days to make a decision.
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