A U.S. senator and congressman paid a visit to Panther Valley Elementary School in Nesquehoning on Monday and read Thanksgiving books to Pre-K Counts students.

U.S. Sen. Bob Casey Jr. and Congressman Dan Meuser visited the school specifically to have a glance at the federally funded Pre-K Counts program.

The program is operated though Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers Inc. Casey said he would like to see the program expanded to include more children and more classrooms, noting it is part of President Joe Biden’s social spending plan.

Present besides Casey and Meuser were representatives of Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers, representatives of the United Way, several members of the offices of both Casey and Meuser, and Kathy Henderson, director of economic development of the Carbon County Chamber and Economic Development.

The guests were given a tour of Panther Valley Elementary School by David McAndrew, superintendent of schools, and Robert Palazzo, elementary principal.

Casey presented copies of his “Five Freedoms for America’s Children.” Those five freedoms are freedom to be healthy, freedom to be economically secure, freedom to learn, freedom from hunger and freedom to be safe from harm.

His freedom to learn agenda includes increasing funding for the Child Care Entitlement to States and Head Start and a child tax credit/children’s allowance.

The Tax Credit Enhancement Act he is supporting would make the full child tax credit available to families with incomes under $125,000, cover up to half the cost of child care, and ensure lower-income families would see a benefit.

Casey said he’s happy that such a program exists in the Panther Valley as the Pre-K Counts program.

“There are millions of children in this country who don’t have this opportunity. “The state and school district can’t do this alone. They need federal help,” Casey said.

“If kids learn more now, they’ll earn more later,” he said.

McAndrew welcomed the guests and told them he appreciates Panther Valley being able to have the federal pre-K program.

He specifically mentioned the Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers Inc. for operating the program.

The visit by the federal officials comes just a week after McAndrew had been in Harrisburg testifying in front of state legislators about the unfair funding practices to poorer school district such as Panther Valley.

Amanda Pacheaco, teacher of Pre-K Counts, said the program began with just six students and now has 17 children enrolled. All are ages 3 and 4.

Casey read the book “Turkey Trouble.” It’s a story about a turkey who comes up with a plan to escape being the main course of Thanksgiving.

Meuser read “The Best Thanksgiving Ever.” A few of the children approached Meuser to tell him about their Thanksgiving.

The federal lawmaker talked to the students about much of the food they eat on Thanksgiving.

“We grow a lot of those things right here in Pennsylvania.”

The United Way was represented by Akshara Vivekananthan and Emma Padrick.

Representing the Lehigh Valley Children’s Centers was its vice president, Jessika Nasatka.