[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 26, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR DESIGNATION OF MAY AS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH 
   AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT CONGRESS HAS TO PROMOTE 
SAFETY, WELL-BEING, IMPROVED OUTCOMES, AND PERMANENCY FOR THE NATION'S 
                          COLLECTIVE CHILDREN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 26, 2010

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 
1339, which expresses the House of Representatives' support for the 
designation of May as National Foster Care Month and recognizes the 
important role that foster parents play in the lives of children across 
the country. There are nearly 500,000 children in America's foster care 
system. Many of these children come from troubled backgrounds and 
turbulent pasts. America's foster parents take these children in and 
show them the care and attention that they deserve as they wait to be 
reunited with their families or adopted into new, loving families.
  I thank Chairman Levin for his leadership in bringing this bill to 
the floor. I also thank the sponsor of this legislation, Congressman 
McDermott, for working to increase public awareness about the critical 
role that the foster care system plays in our society.
  In my home State of California, there are nearly 80,000 children in 
the foster care system, a majority of whom were placed there by the 
State as a result of parental abuse or neglect. Foster parents play a 
critical role in the lives of some the most vulnerable youths in 
California and across the country. They help hold our Nation's social 
fabric together by ensuring that thousands of young people in this 
country stay on track towards successful futures.
  Designating May as National Foster Care Month is a way to encourage 
responsible and caring adults to serve as foster parents. 
Unfortunately, there is currently a shortage in the number of foster 
parents available. There are less than 3 foster homes for every 10 
children living under the State's care.
  While the foster care system provides a vital service in our society, 
children in foster homes often face special challenges. In 2008, 
123,000 of the 273,000 children in the foster care system were waiting 
to be adopted into new homes. However, by the end of the year, only 
55,000 were adopted out of foster care. Foster children who are not 
adopted or reunited with their families often end up ``aging out'' of 
the foster care system. These children who ``age out'' of the system 
are in need of resources to help them afford higher education 
opportunities, find affordable housing and quality health insurance, 
and achieve steady employment. This is a social demand to which 
Congress must respond.
  Past legislative initiatives to invest in our country's foster care 
system include the Adoption Assistance and Safe Families Act of 1980, 
the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, and the Fostering 
Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008. These 
initiatives recognized the need to provide increased resources for 
foster families and a sense of stability for foster children, 65 
percent of whom experience a minimum of seven school changes while in 
the system. Congress must continue working to improve the foster care 
system, so that all children within this system can develop and mature 
in young adults with bright futures.
  I salute the selflessness and hard work that foster parents 
demonstrate each day when they care for a child who had been displaced 
from his or her family. I offer my sincere support for dedicating the 
month of May as National Foster Care Month. I urge my colleagues to 
join me in supporting H. Res. 1339.

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