[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 21, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H4017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, in honor of National Foster Care Month, I 
would like to address a vital issue in today's foster care system: the 
need for more foster care parents. I would also like to recognize a few 
foster care organizations in Nebraska's Second Congressional District. 
These organizations embrace children in the foster care system and are 
committed to helping youth find permanent homes through foster parents, 
so that they, too, can experience love, stability, and the freedom to 
reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances.
  Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska has been an advocate in the 
child foster care system for more than 125 years. This year, their 
mission is to secure 100 foster families who can offer a mature and 
stable environment.
  Boys Town Nebraska, where I was fortunate to speak this last weekend 
at their high school graduation, directly serves about 30,000 children 
every year and believes that foster parents are the heart of high-
quality foster care by offering children protection, permanency, and 
comfort.
  The Child Saving Institute values the overall well-being of children 
by offering free, trauma-informed training to individuals and couples 
who want to serve as foster parents.
  And the Nebraska Children's Home Society not only strives to find 
permanent homes for children, but they also address the need to foster 
teenagers.
  All four of these organizations provide care and assistance to the 
abused and neglected and encourages the need for foster parents for 
children of all ages.
  Each year, hundreds of Nebraska youth are removed from their homes 
due to unfortunate circumstances. Many of them fear where they will end 
up or if they will ever find their forever home.
  My wife, Angie, and I adopted two children, Austin and Jessica, from 
the foster care system when they were just 8 and 9 years old. Even 
though we already had two sons, we knew that there were not enough 
homes for older children and siblings. Austin and Jessica are blessings 
to our family. Even though foster parenting was challenging, choosing 
to adopt them was one of the best and most rewarding decisions Angie, 
my wife, and I have ever made.
  Even though foster children are hurting, they are just looking for 
someone to be committed to them and help them succeed. It is time to 
realize that everyone can play a part in enhancing the lives of 
children and youth in foster care and that these children just want 
someone to care for them. It is the hope that one day, through 
opportunity and lessons, these children will grow up and provide safety 
for their own children, benefiting future generations.
  The idea of children being placed with stable and devoted families is 
not a partisan issue. I am very appreciative to my colleagues from both 
sides of the aisle, and I am thankful to serve as a co-chair for the 
Foster Care Caucus. I will continue to be an advocate for foster 
children and encourage the need for foster parents. We must remember 
that every child, no matter the age, is worthy of love and deserves a 
family.

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