[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 85 (Tuesday, May 19, 2026)]
[House]
[Pages H3558-H3564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
FOSTERING THE FUTURE ACT
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 7432) to amend section 477 of the Social Security
Act to improve coordination with Federal housing assistance programs
for youth who have experienced foster care, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 7432
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Fostering the Future Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE TRAINING
OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED
FOSTER CARE.
Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(5), by striking ``aged out of foster
care'' and inserting ``experienced foster care at age 14 or
older'';
(2) in subsection (h)(2), by striking ``age out of foster
care'' and inserting ``experience foster care at age 14 or
older'';
(3) in each of subsections (a)(6) and (i)(2), by striking
``16'' and inserting ``14'';
(4) in subsection (i)(3), by striking ``in no event may a
youth participate in the program for more than 5 years
(whether or not consecutive)'' and inserting ``may not allow
a youth to participate in the program for more than 5 years
(or, in the case of a youth who was involved in a remedial
education activity referred to in paragraph (4)(B), for more
than 6 years), whether or not consecutive'';
(5) in subsection (i)(4)--
(A) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows:
``(A) may be available for the cost of attendance--
``(i) at an institution of higher education, as defined in
section 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, including a
community college or postsecondary vocational institution; or
``(ii) at a short-term training program that is eligible
for the Workforce Pell program under section 401(k), as
described in section 481(b)(3) of the Higher Education Act of
1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088(b)(3)), as added by section 83002(b) of
Public Law 119-21;'';
(B) by redesignating subparagraph (B) as subparagraph (C);
and
(C) by inserting after subparagraph (A), as so amended, the
following:
``(B) may be available for costs--
``(i) associated with participation in an apprenticeship
program;
``(ii) to obtain a general equivalency degree; or
``(iii) to receive remedial education; and''; and
(6) in subsection (i), by adding at the end the following:
``(7) In this section, the term `remedial education' means
education or skill training needed to support obtaining a
high school diploma or qualifying for postsecondary
education, training, or an apprenticeship that is--
``(A) not already available through the school district of
the student or another free local, State, or Federal program;
and
``(B) is provided by an instructor with credentials
relevant to the subject area of instruction, as determined by
the State.''.
SEC. 3. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHER
AMOUNT AND PROVISION OF GREATER SUPPORT FOR
FOSTER YOUTH PURSUING POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--Section 477(i) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 677(i)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking ``that program'' and inserting ``that
education or training program, (except that the State may
establish a grace period to allow a youth to continue
participation in activities described in paragraph (4)(A),
after an assessment and consultation with the youth, if the
State determines that reasonable circumstances warrant the
grace period)''; and
(B) by striking ``the program'' and inserting ``the voucher
program''; and
(2) in paragraph (4)(C) (as so redesignated by section
2(5)(C) of this Act), by striking ``$5,000'' and inserting
``$12,000''.
(b) Guidance.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services,
in consultation with youth who have experienced foster care,
shall develop and issue model guidance to States and
jurisdictions receiving allotments under section 477(c) of
the Social Security
[[Page H3559]]
Act for implementation of the amendment made by subsection
(a)(1) of this section.
SEC. 4. IMPROVING ACCESSIBILITY AND YOUTH AWARENESS OF
EDUCATION AND TRAINING VOUCHERS.
(a) In General.--Section 477(i) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 677(i)), as amended by section 2(6) of this Act,
is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(8) The State shall make reasonable efforts to ensure
that eligible youth are aware of potential benefits provided
under this subsection, including by coordinating with
programs funded under subsection (h)(1).
``(9) The program shall include a simplified, user-tested,
and standard form for youth to use to apply for vouchers
under the program, using standard terminology, that is easily
accessible and available electronically.''.
(b) Use of Funds.--Section 477(d)(1) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
677(d)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--A State to which an amount is paid from
its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the amount in
any manner that is reasonably calculated to accomplish the
purposes of this section, including outreach related to
subsection (i)(8). A State to which an amount is paid from
its allotment under subsection (c)(3) may use the amount for
any purpose related to the program described in subsection
(i)(8).''.
SEC. 5. IMPROVING ACCESS TO HOUSING FOR FOSTER YOUTH.
Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(1)--
(A) by striking ``and preventive'' and inserting
``preventive''; and
(B) by inserting ``, and access to housing for youth age 18
or older'' before the semicolon;
(2) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting ``current and''
before ``former'';
(3) in subsection (b)(2)(D), by inserting ``, including by
collaborating with public housing agencies that administer
Federal housing programs serving foster youth under section
8(x)(2)(B) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and
receive funding to partner with public child welfare agencies
to serve youth who have experienced foster care'' before the
period;
(4) in subsection (b)(3)(B), by striking ``not more than 30
percent of the amounts paid to the State from its allotment
under subsection (c) for a fiscal year'' and inserting ``an
average of not more than 30 percent of the amounts paid to
the State from its allotment under subsection (c) for the 5
fiscal years covered by the application submitted by the
State pursuant to paragraph (1) of this subsection'';
(5) in subsection (d), by adding at the end the following:
``(6) Housing supportive services.--
``(A) In general.--A State may use amounts from its
allotment under subsection (c) to provide supportive services
to assist eligible youth who experienced foster care to
obtain or retain suitable housing.
``(B) Definitions.--
``(i) Eligible youth.--In this subsection, the term
`eligible youth' means an individual who receives assistance
provided under section 8(x) of the United States Housing Act
of 1937.
``(ii) Supportive services.--The term `supportive services'
may include--
``(I) basic life skills information and counseling on
financial literacy, use of credit, and money management;
``(II) counseling on rental lease contracts and assistance
with rental insurance; and
``(III) assistance with security deposits, utility
connection fees, moving costs, and other fees associated with
establishing tenancy.
``(C) Exception.--Expenditures in accordance with this
paragraph shall not be considered expenditures for room and
board for purposes of subsection (b)(3)(B).
``(D) Aligning age eligibility.--Notwithstanding subsection
(b)(3)(A)(ii), a State may use funds from its allotment under
subsection (c) to provide supportive services to eligible
youth who have not attained 26 years of age for the purpose
of supporting continued access to housing.''; and
(6) in subsection (g)(1), by inserting ``access to
housing,'' before ``and personal''.
SEC. 6. JOINT AGENCY GUIDANCE.
(a) In General.--Within 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development,
shall develop and issue joint guidance to State public child
welfare agencies and public housing authorities to improve
alignment and coordination of housing supportive services
provided under section 477 of the Social Security Act and
housing assistance provided under section 8(x) of the United
States Housing Act of 1937.
(b) Contents.--The joint guidance shall include the
following:
(1) Clarification and alignment of Federal policies to
improve access to housing for youth who have experienced
foster care, including youth who are in independent living
arrangements while in extended foster care.
(2) Guidance on State use of funds provided under section
477 of the Social Security Act for supportive services (as
defined in subsection (d)(6) of such section) to improve
access to housing programs administered by the Department of
Housing and Urban Development.
(3) Best practices for building partnerships between public
child welfare agencies and public housing authorities,
including ways to improve access to supportive services.
(4) Additional information the Secretaries deem necessary
to effectively coordinate Federal programs serving current
and former foster youth.
(c) Production.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services
shall designate an official of the Department of Health and
Human Services to lead development of the joint guidance in
collaboration with the Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
Within 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation
with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall
submit to the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee
on Financial Services of the House of Representatives, and
the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate a report that sets
forth--
(1) aggregate data on the number of eligible youth who have
experienced foster care who are receiving Federal housing
assistance;
(2) a description of the outcomes for the youth, including
the extent to which youth are able to access stable housing
and rates of homelessness;
(3) the findings from any evaluations of State programs
conducted pursuant to section 477(g)(1) of the Social
Security Act; and
(4) statutory recommendations for improving coordination
between public child welfare agencies and Federal housing
programs.
SEC. 8. LEGAL CONSULTING AND ACCESS UNDER THE JOHN H. CHAFEE
FOSTER CARE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION
TO ADULTHOOD.
Section 477 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677) is
amended--
(1) in subsection (a)(4), by inserting ``legal counseling
access,'' after ``education,''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(3), by adding at the end the
following:
``(L) A certification by the chief executive officer of the
State that the relevant case planning and other processes
employed by the State take into consideration certain legal
issues affecting housing, education, entry into employment,
and family connections of current and former foster youth and
the efforts required to address the issues, including with
respect to State court records, legal recognition of family
relationships, and matters relating to custody and
permanency.''.
SEC. 9. ENSURING EXPECTANT AND PARENTING YOUTH HAVE ACCESS TO
SERVICES PROVIDED THROUGH THE MATERNAL, INFANT,
AND EARLY CHILDHOOD HOME VISITING PROGRAM.
(a) Purpose.--Section 477(a) of the Social Security Act (42
U.S.C. 677(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ``and'';
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period and inserting
``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(8) to connect foster youth in eligible families (as such
term is defined in section 511) who receive services under
this part with evidence-based home visiting and support
services provided under section 511.''.
(b) Applications.--Section 477(b)(3) of such Act (42 U.S.C.
677(b)(3)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(M) A certification by the chief executive officer of the
State that the State has processes in place to ensure that a
youth participating in the program under this section who is
in an eligible family (as such term is defined in section
511) is provided with information regarding evidence-based
home visiting and support services provided in the State
under section 511.''.
SEC. 10. TAILORED CASE MANAGEMENT AND RESOURCE COORDINATION
SERVICES FOR PARENTING AND EXPECTANT YOUTH WHO
HAVE EXPERIENCED FOSTER CARE.
Section 477(d)(1) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.
677(d)(1)) is amended to read as follows:
``(1) In general.--A State to which an amount is paid from
its allotment under subsection (c)(1) may use the amount--
``(A) to provide tailored case management and resource
coordination services to youth otherwise eligible for
services under the State program under this section who are
expectant or parenting; or
``(B) in any manner that is reasonably calculated to
accomplish the purposes of this section.''.
SEC. 11. UPDATING THE PURPOSES OF THE JOHN H. CHAFEE FOSTER
CARE PROGRAM FOR SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION TO
ADULTHOOD.
(a) Updating of Purposes.--Section 477(a) of the Social
Security Act (42 U.S.C. 677(a)), as amended by section
9(a)(3) of this Act, is amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (2);
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (3) through (8) as
paragraphs (3) through (9), respectively; and
(3) by inserting after ``conducted--'' the following:
``(1) to help children who have experienced foster care at
age 14 or older to develop and maintain sustained, supportive
relationships with adults (including kin or fictive kin who
are not serving as placement), mentors, and peers (including
peers who have experienced foster care), with a goal of
providing multiple and varied paths to reduce isolation and
ensuring that the youth develop lifelong connections and
support networks;
``(2) to support youth still in foster care who have
experienced foster care at age 14 or
[[Page H3560]]
older in exercising the rights referred to in section 475A to
participate in developing their permanency plan and receive
written information about available services and steps the
agency is taking to support the plan, as well as to
facilitate pre- and post-permanency peer support, mentoring,
connections with kin, and referrals to additional appropriate
programs and services to help youth achieve their permanency
goals;''.
(b) Guidance.--Within 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act and after consulting with youth with
lived experience in foster care, the Secretary of Health and
Human Services shall issue guidance to States and Tribal
child welfare agencies regarding the purposes set forth in
paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 477(a) of the Social
Security Act, that includes, at a minimum--
(1) examples of services and support eligible for Federal
funding under part B of title IV of such Act, under part E of
such title as part of completing and following the case plan
requirements provided for in section 475A of such Act, or
under section 477 of such Act, including individual youth
support, family support, and peer support to engage youth
during reunification, guardianship, or adoption proceedings;
(2) best practices for facilitating peer support,
mentoring, and the development and maintenance of lifelong
connections, including practices that support sibling,
tribal, and community connections, including minimum
qualifications and training for persons providing mentoring
and peer support;
(3) standards of outreach to and notification of eligible
youth, including youth with a planned permanent living
arrangement, to ensure referrals to appropriate programs and
services; and
(4) protocols for documentation of support and
relationship-building activities under section 477 of such
Act that are required by section 475A of such Act to be
included in a child's case plan, sufficient to permit review
under the case review system described in section 475(5) of
such Act.
SEC. 12. EFFECTIVE DATE.
(a) In General.--Except as otherwise provided in this Act,
this Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take
effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(b) Delayed Permitted if State Legislation Required.--If
the Secretary of Health and Human Services determines that
State legislation (other than legislation appropriating
funds) is required in order for a State plan under section
477 of the Social Security Act to meet the additional
requirements imposed by the amendments made by sections 5(3),
5(4), 8(2), and 9(b) of this Act, the plan shall not be
regarded as failing to meet any of the additional
requirements before the 1st day of the 1st calendar quarter
beginning after the first regular session of the State
legislature that begins after the date of the enactment of
this Act. For purposes of the preceding sentence, if the
State has a 2-year legislative session, each year of the
session is deemed to be a separate regular session of the
State legislature.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Missouri (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Missouri.
General Leave
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and
submit extraneous material on this bill under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Missouri?
There was no objection.
{time} 1440
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7432, the Fostering the
Future Act, bipartisan legislation led by my Ways and Means Committee
colleagues, Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood, and
Congresswoman Gwen Moore.
This is a historic moment for this committee and this House. What we
have before us is the first comprehensive modernization of the John H.
Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood since
its creation in 1999, nearly three decades ago.
Foster youth are one of the most vulnerable populations in our
country. Before I came to Congress, I served as an attorney for
neglected and abused children and have seen firsthand the challenges so
many of these youth face.
Every year, nearly 16,000 foster youth age out of the system. Nearly
35 percent experience homelessness by age 21, and 70 percent are
expectant or parenting by age 21, double the national average. Only 56
percent obtain full- or part-time employment, and possibly as few as 69
percent earn a high school diploma or GED. This is a system in
desperate need of attention and reform.
Today, we are giving our Nation's foster youth a fighting chance at
independence in adulthood. Following committee hearings and direct
consultation with youth who spoke about their personal and real-world
experiences, the Ways and Means Committee thoughtfully wrote these
reforms designed to improve outcomes for our Nation's transitioning
foster youth.
I want to give special thanks to our Nation's First Lady, Melania
Trump, who has been an outstanding champion for foster youth through
her Fostering the Future initiative. Truly, she is a voice for the
voiceless.
Last month, our committee sat down for a roundtable with the First
Lady and foster youth leaders who have actually lived through this
system. I am proud that this bill codifies key priorities from the
Fostering the Future of American Children and Families executive order
championed by the First Lady, ensuring that these reforms are here to
stay.
In direct response to the feedback raised by foster youth, including
Seth, a 21-year-old from my district in Missouri, this bill improves
connections to housing programs so foster youth aren't left to age out
onto the streets.
Chairman LaHood, a longtime leader on expanding access to housing,
and Representative Gwen Moore championed this provision to ensure
housing stability remains in reach for young adults during a very
vulnerable time as they transition to independence.
We also incorporated the feedback of Jaydan, a former foster youth
from Texas, who spoke at our roundtable about the importance of
increasing the value of the education and training voucher. Thanks to
the leadership of another Texan, Representative Moran, and
Representative Chu, foster youth will now have greater academic support
when pursuing a postsecondary education.
The Fostering the Future Act expands flexibility in Chafee's
education and training voucher program, with feedback from youth like
Kimberley in Missouri and Raven in Ohio, so young people can pursue
short-term workforce programs and apprenticeship opportunities to earn
a high-paying job or receive remedial education to earn their high
school diploma, reforms prioritized by Representatives Max Miller from
Ohio and Dwight Evans from Pennsylvania.
Youth who age out of the child welfare system often lack permanent
connections to family and face unique barriers that can make
transitioning into independence difficult. We heard directly from a
foster youth from Chairman LaHood and Ranking Member Davis' home State
of Illinois, Jocelyn Fettering, who shared with us at our roundtable
the importance of improving access to legal services.
To break down further barriers, we have included a thoughtful
initiative from Representatives Yakym and Davis to connect expectant
and parenting foster youth with evidence-based maternal, infant, and
early childhood home visiting services.
Representative Yakym is building directly upon the great work of his
predecessor, the late Jackie Walorski, leveraging existing resources to
help these young adults build healthy, stable families.
Finally, a provision led by Representatives Mike Carey and Gwen
Moore updates the core mission of the Chafee program to prioritize
lifelong connections, mentors, and permanent support networks.
Representative Carey has been incredibly outspoken about the importance
of mentorship, and this step ensures these young people have real-world
relationships to help them achieve lasting independence.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 7432, the Fostering the
Future Act, which includes six separate pieces of legislation that were
unanimously passed by the Ways and Means Committee.
Removing a child from their family and placing them in foster care is
a last resort, something we should only do at times when there is no
way to keep a child safe at home.
[[Page H3561]]
Youth who must enter foster care have already experienced significant
trauma, and to our shame, many experience additional trauma while in
our care.
One of the greatest honors and greatest challenges of my service in
Congress has been listening to youth who experienced foster care,
learning from them, and trying to make sure we do better in the future.
Over the years, older youth who experienced foster care have helped
us enact historic legislation to improve foster care for those who come
after them. Former foster youth informed and supported our work to help
more children leave foster care to live with their grandparents and
other family members, and with the supports they needed in the
Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act.
Older youth said it would help them if we helped their parents
address substance use disorders and mental health challenges. So,
first, we created regional partnerships grants to bring child welfare,
substance abuse treatment providers, and law enforcement together.
Then, youth helped us enact the landmark Family First Prevention
Services Act, which made Federal funding just as available to stabilize
families as it is to separate them.
Older youth, especially those who are LGBTQ, continue to warn us that
children are being harmed in group homes and inappropriate placements,
so that we can improve our enforcement of laws that are supposed to
protect them.
In all those efforts, older youth who were in foster care and young
adults who recently left it helped make foster care better for others.
Today's bill would directly address the specific challenges older
youth themselves experienced. Every year, about 20,000 young people age
out of foster care, never having found a permanent family. Other older
youth do exit to live safely with their parents or in loving kinship or
adoptive homes, but the trauma and disruption they experienced still
puts them at a significant disadvantage compared to their peers.
{time} 1450
Older youth who experienced foster care are less likely to finish
school or pursue higher education, more likely to struggle with
untreated mental health issues and trauma, more likely to experience
homelessness, more likely to become young parents, and more likely to
face legal challenges.
The Chafee program, which was renamed to honor foster youth champion
Senator John Chafee after his death, was created to help current and
former foster youth transition to successful adulthood.
Unfortunately, its funding has never been significantly adjusted to
keep up with inflation, and its purposes and rules for States have only
been sporadically updated to keep pace with our understanding of
adolescent brain development, fix policies that don't work well, and
make sure that former foster youth navigate adulthood with the help of
people who love them.
Despite the Chafee program's many successes, only about 35 percent of
youth who are eligible for Chafee services receive any help, and many
of the services youth need the most are not available, don't work well
with other sources of help, or are hard to access.
Over the past 6 months, Chairman LaHood and I have worked with our
colleagues on Ways and Means to find true common ground on policies
affecting older youth who are, or were, in foster care.
I commend my friend, Mr. LaHood, for a bipartisan process that should
be a model for all of our work, a sincere, thoughtful collaboration
where we both talked and listened. This collaborative process yielded
six separate pieces of legislation that reflect real agreement about
steps that will help youth. Our work was further strengthened by
support from First Lady Melania Trump, who has also been listening
carefully to youth about what they need.
I will briefly recognize my colleagues that authored the bills that
were passed by Ways and Means and then combined into one bill for
consideration today. Their thoughtful proposals generated hundreds of
endorsements by organizations representing foster youth, families,
child welfare agencies, and experts like pediatricians and family law
practitioners.
Chairman LaHood and Congresswoman Gwen Moore led the Foster Youth
Housing Opportunity Act, which would improve foster youth access to
section 8 housing vouchers and make it easier for Chafee programs to
provide housing support to foster youth. Housing is a foundation of
stable adult life, and our current policies are preventing the Chafee
program from doing as much as it can and should.
Congresswoman Judy Chu and Congressman Nathaniel Moran led the Foster
Youth Postsecondary Education Access and Success Act, which would
increase the potential amount of Chafee education and training vouchers
from $5,000 to $12,000, provide better opportunities for youth who are
struggling to retain their vouchers, and provide more financing options
for Chafee voucher outreach.
At our committee hearings, some youth told us they didn't even know
that Chafee would help them pay for college until it was too late, and
others told us that the way the vouchers were limited made them almost
impossible to use.
Representatives Chu and Moran's bill lays the foundation for a
bigger, more effective effort to help foster youth go to college and
build careers in the future.
Representative Max Miller and Representative Dwight Evans led the
Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act, which would ensure that foster
youth could use Chafee education vouchers for high quality training
programs and apprenticeships, as well as college, and would ensure that
they have the skills and qualifications to be accepted into the
colleges or training programs they choose.
I led the Fresh Start for Foster Youth Act, together with Chairman
LaHood. It would help foster youth transition to adulthood by providing
better access to resources to address legal challenges affecting
housing, education, employment, and family conditions.
Since launching its virtual support services program for foster youth
in 2021, Think of Us reports that 18 percent of all requests from
transition-age youth are for help with legal services. A few of the
issues include: housing stability and eviction defense; guardianship
and custody, especially for youth informally caring for relatives;
needs of expectant and parenting youth; reentry into extended care;
legal issues; and education and disability advocacy.
I thank Nikolas Hughey, a former foster youth intern with the
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, for raising the issue of
urgent legal issues.
I was also pleased to work with Congressman Rudy Yakym on the Support
for Expectant and Parenting Foster Youth Act, which requires States to
refer expectant and parenting foster youth for Maternal Infant and
Early Childhood Home Visiting, or MIECHV, home visiting services and
consider parenting status in case planning, building on the success
Illinois and Indiana have had using targeted, intensive services to
support young families.
Last, but definitely not least, in her dual role as a key member of
the Worker and Family Support Subcommittee and as co-chair of the
Congressional Foster Youth Caucus, Congresswoman Gwen Moore worked with
Congressman Mike Carey on the CONNECT Act. Their bill updates the
purposes of the Chafee program to help youth form and preserve
meaningful, supportive, long-term relationships, which both youth and
experts have identified as the key to a successful transition to
adulthood.
This change is something youth have been telling us for a long time,
that all of the challenges they face are surmountable if they have a
family, a loving and trustworthy network of adults and peers that
advises them, believes in them, and catches them when they stumble.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 7432 and also to
make voting for this bill just the first step in their efforts to help
older youth who experienced foster care.
Notably, there is a critical need for more investment. Aside from
during the pandemic, Congress has only increased Chafee funding by $3
million since its creation in 1999. The amount
[[Page H3562]]
of money needed would be tiny and insignificant compared to the fiscal
impact of many of the bills we have considered in the House this
Congress or a day at the Defense Department; yet, such funding could be
life-changing for foster youth.
Mr. Speaker, I urge support of these six bills, and I reserve the
balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), who is the sponsor of this
legislation. Mr. LaHood, as the chairman of our Work and Welfare
Subcommittee, has been a tireless champion for America's foster youth
and a leader in advancing these long overdue reforms.
{time} 1500
Mr. LaHOOD. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate National Foster Care Month,
I rise in strong support of H.R. 7432, the Fostering the Future Act, a
bill that would empower America's foster youth transitioning to
adulthood. I thank Chairman Smith for his leadership and attention to
these six bills. We would not be debating these bills today if it
wasn't for him and his work.
Each year, nearly 16,000 foster youth age out of the child welfare
system, often without permanent connections to families. This needs to
be fixed.
As chairman of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee, one of my
priorities has been to modernize the Chafee Foster Care Program, which
exclusively supports foster youth as they transition to adulthood.
Last January, GAO, the Government Accountability Office, published a
report which found States have been returning millions of dollars of
unused Chafee funds since 2007, despite the need from foster youth.
In response, a bipartisan group of Ways and Means Committee members
participated in hearings and listened to the youth with lived
experience to develop proposals and ideas to modernize Chafee. I thank
Ranking Member Danny Davis for his lifetime of work when it comes to
foster care and his legacy in this space.
In addition, First Lady Melania Trump's unwavering commitment to
elevating America's foster youth through the Fostering the Future
initiative has elevated these issues to the highest level of
government. I commend the First Lady for her dedication and passion to
these issues. There are many issues she could have championed, but she
chose helping foster youth, and our country is better off because of
it.
Last November, I was honored to join President Trump and Mrs. Trump
as part of the signing of that historic executive order at the White
House regarding fostering our future. Mrs. Trump also graciously joined
a bipartisan group of Ways and Means members for a roundtable as we
worked to develop these proposals.
The Fostering the Future Act represents the most significant reforms
to Chafee since its creation in 1999. It is comprised of six bills that
together will improve access to stable housing, educational support,
workforce training, legal services, and home visiting programs for
expectant and parenting foster youth.
Specifically, this bill includes the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity
Act, which I introduced with my Democrat colleague, Gwen Moore of
Wisconsin. Thirty-five percent of foster youth experience homelessness
compared to just 4 percent of the general population. This bill
improves coordination between Chafee and Federal housing programs to
expand access to vouchers.
This bill also includes the Fresh Starts for Foster Youth Act, which
I joined with my friend Danny Davis in introducing, to improve access
to legal services for foster youth.
A history of being in foster care should not limit potential for
future success. These two specific bills will help our foster youth
with future success. By passing the Fostering the Future Act, Congress
can ensure that foster youth have the tools they need to achieve
economic independence and long-term stability and success.
In closing, I again thank Chairman Smith, Mrs. Trump, and the
bipartisan group of Ways and Means Committee members for their
steadfast bipartisan collaboration in developing meaningful proposals
to support America's foster youth.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Moore).
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from
Illinois for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I am so excited to join all of my colleagues on the
floor today in support of Fostering the Future Act, the Chafee bill
package that is the first modern improvement of the Chafee Act, as my
colleagues have indicated, since 1999 when the program was created.
Before I talk specifically about the bill, I lift up Representative
Dr. Danny Davis who will be retiring after this term. I thank him for
his lifetime career of standing up for youth as a professional social
worker and as a county board commissioner in Illinois.
Dr. Davis has been a longstanding leader, serving as both chair and
ranking member of the subcommittee that deals with foster youth issues
on Ways and Means. He has brought so much wisdom because of his long
career to this that we are able to bring these bills to the floor. None
of this would be possible without him. He is very humble, but I lift
him up and thank him today.
Mr. Speaker, I also thank Chairman Jason Smith from Missouri and
Ranking Member Neal. I really appreciate that Chairman Smith has really
dug in deep representing these foster kids. I heard him today share
with us that he, as a lawyer in Missouri, represented foster kids. I
said to myself, aha, there it is. I knew it was something. This is
completing a circle, and we appreciate his leadership at this time.
Likewise, Chairman LaHood of our subcommittee and Representative
Carey have been great partners on the two bills that we have included
in this package naming the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity Act and the
CONNECT Act.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the First Lady of the
United States has leaned into supporting our foster youth, how
prescient and how purposeful is that. Hopefully, that will enable us to
really fund these fantastic ideas that we are authorizing today.
Mr. Speaker, I am so proud to be a co-chair of the bipartisan
Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth. We are going to have shadow day
on June 10, so I am hoping that everyone will get their foster youth,
and you will be surprised as you guide these foster youth through your
day, in that you will learn more from them or as much from them as you
may have to share with them.
I am so privileged to be able to fight for foster youth, including
meeting youth who have lived experience in the foster care system. So
often I hear from these youth about their experiences in foster care,
and although they are very resilient, the ones we get to talk to, they
will tell you that as they age out of foster care, the likelihood of
them becoming homeless and feeling abandoned is disproportionately
great for this cohort.
Approximately 20,000 youth age out of foster care each year, and of
that, approximately 25 percent of them experience homelessness.
Mr. Speaker, many report that they can't achieve permanency with an
adoptive, foster, or kinship family. They don't feel like they have a
trusted adult in their family to help them navigate the complexities of
transitioning to adulthood.
It is difficult enough for a youth to transition into adulthood even
when they are privileged, but imagine that you have been a foster youth
trying to navigate the great big world all alone.
This package aims to address some of the challenges that we know our
foster youth are facing, and I hope we can move forward in the future
to help provide the funding again that will be needed.
The two bills in this package, the Foster Youth Housing Opportunity
Act and the CONNECT Act, aim to provide more tools and resources.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The time of the gentlewoman has expired.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds
to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.
Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, the Foster Youth Housing
Opportunity Act, which I co-lead with Chairman LaHood, would exempt
housing
[[Page H3563]]
supportive services, such as security deposits and utility connection
fees, from the 30 percent housing cap under Chafee. This will allow
States the opportunity to provide more youth with rental and housing
assistance.
Mr. Speaker, I also lift up the bill that I have with Mr. Carey
called the CONNECT Act. It amends the statutory purposes of the Chafee
program to help youth create meaningful connections with adults and
build a lifelong support network as a core purpose of the Chafee
program.
{time} 1510
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman
from Indiana (Mr. Yakym).
Mr. YAKYM. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Missouri for
yielding me the time.
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support the Fostering the Future Act,
which will make meaningful changes to the Chafee program to better
support foster youth and alleviate unnecessary challenges.
This bill includes the Support for Expectant and Parenting Foster
Youth Act, which I was proud to introduce with the gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Davis), my friend and the ranking member. This bill
strengthens the coordination between the Chafee program and the
Maternal Infant Early Childhood Home Visiting program, or MIECHV.
Foster youth are more likely to become parents earlier compared to
their peers. Navigating the foster youth system can be difficult
enough, but adding the demands of parenting presents a special
challenge for older foster youth who are also parents.
My bill will help more parenting and expectant foster youth access
evidence-based home visiting services by improving program coordination
and allowing for specialized case management.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill. I thank the
ranking member, as well as Chairman LaHood for their support.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Miller).
Mr. MILLER of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R.
7432, the Fostering the Future Act, a critical child welfare bill that
will set foster youth up for success.
This legislation includes the Foster Youth Workforce Opportunity Act,
which I introduced to codify First Lady Melania Trump's Fostering the
Future for America Children and Families executive order.
Unfortunately, only 35 percent of foster youth secure full-time
employment in adulthood. People would think that the severity of this
crisis would mean that the Federal programming designed to support
foster youth would actually give this group of individuals lots of
pathways to success, but they would be wrong.
Under current law, the Chafee Education and Training Vouchers can
only be used for 4-year degrees. I have heard from foster youths who
want to pursue trade schools or certifications instead, and my bill
expands the career options available to them under this program. This
will open doors to in-demand, high-paying jobs and give foster youth
the tools they need to become self-sufficient and build a stable
future.
My bill expands the Chafee Education and Training Vouchers for short-
term workforce training programs, as well as apprenticeships and
remedial education activities needed to help foster youth earn a high
school diploma or even a GED.
This bill also addresses the chronic underutilization of the Chafee
program funds since 2007. Over the past few years, my home State of
Ohio has returned more than $1.6 million in unused funds due to
statutory barriers--funds that could have helped foster youth. The
Fostering the Future Act will help States like Ohio use their full
Chafee allotments to ensure foster youth receive the critical support
that they need.
Importantly, this legislation has been endorsed by ACTION Ohio, the
Public Children Services Association of Ohio, the Ohio Youth Advisory
Board, and hundreds of current and former foster youths across the
country.
For all of these reasons, I urge my colleagues to support this
bipartisan bill that will deliver for our Nation's foster youth and set
them up for a successful and a self-sufficient future.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Texas (Mr. Moran).
Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7432, the
Fostering the Future Act. This important piece of legislation is a
reflection of months of hard work by the members of the Committee on
Ways and Means and staff.
These much-needed reforms to the Chafee program in this bill will
empower current and former foster youth as they transition into
adulthood.
At a recent Committee on Ways and Means roundtable with First Lady
Melania Trump focused on foster care, I had the privilege of hearing
from Jayden Martinez, a student at Stephen F. Austin State University
who came out of the foster care system. Hearing directly from Jayden
reinforced something many of us already know: These young Americans are
capable of extraordinary things when they are given the tools and the
support they need to succeed.
The Fostering the Future Act makes several significant reforms.
First, it includes the Foster Youth Postsecondary Education Access
and Success Act, legislation I co-lead with Congressman Judy Chu. This
will increase the maximum Education and Training Voucher amount from
$5,000 to $12,000, which will allow foster youth to access education
and skilled programs. It helps provide grace periods when foster youth
are struggling at the collegiate level. Right now, States like Texas
are returning more than a million dollars each year of unused funds
intended for foster youth in this program.
Second, the Fostering the Future Act broadens use of Education and
Training Vouchers to apprenticeships, workforce credential programs,
and remedial education.
Third, it also simplifies the application process so that foster
youth can more easily access the resources that Congress has already
made available.
Last, the Fostering the Future Act codifies several priorities
included in the President's executive order Fostering the Future for
American Children and Families.
Championed by First Lady Melania Trump, as President Reagan often
reminded this Nation, America's strength is found in the promise of
opportunity. This legislation will allow current and former foster
youth the opportunity to pursue education, meaningful work, and the
American Dream.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Fostering the Future
Act.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Carey).
Mr. CAREY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7432, the
Fostering the Future Act, which is made up of six bipartisan bills that
passed the Committee on Ways and Means last month.
These bills collectively modernize the John H. Chafee Foster Care
Program from successful transition to adulthood and are part of First
Lady Melania Trump's Fostering the Future initiative.
I led one of these bills with the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms.
Moore), my friend.
The Chafee Opportunities for New Network and Existing Connection
Trust Act, or the CONNECT Act, clarifies the goal for supporting foster
youth developing meaningful relationships with adults, including kin
and peers, as well as building those supportive networks.
The CONNECT Act also empowers foster youth to take charge of their
own permanency plans and ensures that foster youth understand in
writing the suite of services that the programs are qualified for.
With this legislation, we are setting up the next generation of
America's youth to transition to a more successful adulthood.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Smith, as well as our Ranking Member
Neal, as well as Subcommittee on Work and Welfare Chairman LaHood and
Ranking Member Davis for their
[[Page H3564]]
leadership on this. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this
legislation.
Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Neal,
and all members of the subcommittee. I certainly want to thank the
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. LaHood), my dear friend, for his
leadership. I also thank all of those witnesses who shared their
stories with us, all of the youth who shared their lives and their
lifetimes.
I thank our outstanding committee staff led by Morna Miller,
Kimberley Meinert, Cheryl Freiman, Keval Sojitara, and my primary Ways
and Means staffer, Dr. Jill Hunter-Williams.
Today is a good day for foster youth, but it is also a good day for
America. It is a good day when we say to the young people of our
country that we care about you, we love you, and we recognize your
needs.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote to pass this
legislation as quickly as we can get it enacted so that America will be
the land of youth.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1520
Mr. SMITH of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my
time.
Mr. Speaker, aging out is not a plan. Every young person who has
experienced foster care deserves a real shot at the American Dream, and
they should not be left without any support at a very vulnerable time.
I am very proud of the years of work that went into this legislation:
from all the Members of the Ways and Means Committee; from Mr. Davis,
who has shown his passion and love for the foster youth; to Darin
LaHood, the chair of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee; and all the
different Members who had different pieces of legislation within this
one bill.
The Fostering the Future Act is built on the direct feedback of
foster youth, caregivers, and community organizations on the ground.
The stories we heard at our roundtable with our First Lady and at
committee hearings from courageous leaders like Seth, Kimberley,
Jaydan, and Jocelyn were the key drivers behind these successful
reforms.
I also applaud the First Lady for her relentless focus on advocating
for the most vulnerable and propelling these reforms forward.
This entire effort earned the endorsement of over 150 national,
State, and local organizations, alongside hundreds of foster youth and
caregivers. It passed the Ways and Means Committee with a unanimous,
bipartisan vote. Supporting our foster youth is not a partisan issue.
It is an American responsibility.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to support this legislation,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 7432, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
The title of the bill was amended so as to read: ``A bill to
modernize section 477 of part E of title IV of the Social Security Act
to improve connections to housing, expand education and training
opportunities, and modernize services to improve outcomes for foster
youth transitioning into adulthood.''.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________