[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 93 (Tuesday, June 4, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        FOSTER YOUTH SHADOW DAY

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. JERRY McNERNEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2019

  Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, more than 415,000 children are currently 
living in the foster care system in the United States. As a member of 
the Congressional Foster Youth Caucus, I'm dedicated to strengthening 
our nation's child welfare system for the children of today and for 
future generations.
  I participate in the annual Congressional Foster Youth Shadow Day, 
where current and former foster youth from across the country come to 
Washington to meet with Members of Congress.
  Today I had the privilege of hosting Erica Hickey, a bright young 
woman from my home state of California who has been a foster youth 
advocate with California Youth Connection (CYC) since she went into the 
foster care system at the age of sixteen. Today, Erica serves as a 
member of CYC's Board of Directors and attends UC Davis, where she is 
studying political science. She aspires to go to law school after 
graduation to study anti-trust and government fraud law.
  Erica is passionate about advocacy and policies that support youth 
mental health, foster youth, homeless youth, and juvenile justice 
youth. It's been a pleasure to host her in our nation's capital today, 
and I wish her the best in her future endeavors.

                          ____________________