[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 5, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H3668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              FOSTER YOUTH

  (Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE. Mr. Speaker, I rise as a Representative of Los 
Angeles County, which is home to over 30,000 foster youth. As a co-
chair of the Congressional Foster Youth Caucus, uplifting our most 
vulnerable young people is one of my key priorities in Congress. That 
is why, today, I am highlighting three bills I have sponsored to do 
just that.
  The Expanding Coverage for Former Foster Youth Act is a bipartisan 
and bicameral bill that would ensure that the more than 23,000 youth 
annually who lose healthcare coverage when they age out of the foster 
care system stay covered through age 26. These individuals, like all 
individuals, deserve access to comprehensive healthcare, regardless of 
family status.
  The Higher Education Access and Success Act would level the playing 
field for homeless and former foster youth seeking higher education and 
ensure that they are supported once enrolled. Higher education is 
integral to success, stability, and financial security. It must be 
accessible to all.
  Next week, I will introduce the Promoting Permanency Through Kinship 
Families Act, which would help keep foster children with family members 
permanently. We know that children achieve better outcomes when they 
remain with their families, and we can and must prioritize these 
existing relationships while also ensuring healthy and safe care.

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