[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 130 (Friday, August 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1644]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF CONNECTING FOSTER YOUTH TO THE WORKFORCE 
                      THROUGH INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 29, 2008

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H. Res. 1332, ``Recognizing the importance of connecting foster youth 
to the workforce through internship programs, and encouraging employers 
to increase employment of former foster youth''. First, I would like to 
thank my distinguished colleague, Dennis Cardoza of California, for 
introducing this important piece of legislation. This resolution will 
recognize the significance of creating links between foster youth and 
the workplace through internship opportunities while also urging 
employers to pursue former foster youth. The creation of internship and 
employment opportunities for current and former foster youths has the 
potential to dramatically shape the lives of thousands for the better. 
I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this act.
  There are over 500,000 children and youth in foster care. As the 
youth age out of the system, 50 percent become homeless within the 
first 18 months of emancipation. Less than half of these youth are 
employed 2.5-4 years after leaving the system. Only 38 percent remain 
employed for over a year. Former foster care youth are twice as likely 
to have children in foster care. This problem is systemic, yet through 
opportunities and internships we can break this cycle of impoverishment 
and failure.
  This bill is an appeal to our Nation's employers to help us address 
this issue by providing internships for disadvantaged foster youth, and 
by providing employment once they ``age-out'' of the foster care 
system. Such action will instill knowledge and work-ethic. These 
experiences will open up a new world of opportunity to a group that was 
struggling, not due to a lack of inherent qualifications, but rather 
due to the misfortunes of their upbringing.
  This resolution will express the desire of Congress to address the 
problems of foster care youth, and this resolution will express 
Congress' widespread support of partnerships and initiatives between 
businesses and foster care programs, to help better prepare foster care 
youth for the working world.
  This resolution seeks to benefit the over 500,000 foster care 
children and youth by providing them with the opportunity to further 
themselves through educational and work experiences. As these 
experiences accrue, they will present the foster youth with an idea of 
the opportunities latent within their world, and will hopefully inspire 
them to move forward in pursuit of job and educational opportunities.
  As of 2003 there were 26,133 children in the Texas foster care 
system. Since then, the number has only risen. For many of these 
children the future will include stints in jail, poverty, and 
homelessness, yet strong action on the part of businesses and foster 
care programs in creating internships and partnerships may save many 
from this fate, leading them to secure jobs and successful lives. I 
have often concerned myself with issues regarding the safety and 
success of our future, our Nation's children. By preventing toxic lead 
levels in houses, by ensuring the safety of children in schools, and by 
encouraging businesses to form partnerships with foster care, we take 
small, but significant, steps toward guaranteeing the well-being of our 
children and the security our Nation's future. I urge my colleagues to 
support this legislation.

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