[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 6]
[House]
[Pages 7389-7390]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH

  (Mrs. LAWRENCE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mrs. LAWRENCE. Mr. Speaker, today I stand here to recognize May as

[[Page 7390]]

National Foster Care Month. More than 40,000 of our Nation's youth are 
currently living in the child welfare system. More than 23,000 youth 
age out of the foster care system when they turn 18, putting them at 
risk for homelessness, criminal exposure, and mental illness. These 
statistics paint a grim picture.
  Today I stand here to recognize a young woman who aged out of the 
foster care system, Kamille Tynes, a success story. Kamille spent 5 
years in the Michigan foster care system. Her experience fostered a 
tireless advocacy for foster care and resources that our children need. 
She has been given awards and recognized for her amazing leadership, 
such as the foster care Outstanding Young Leaders Award. She is now 
creating her own consulting firm to address those needs. She is a 
graduate of the University of Michigan.
  Ladies and gentlemen, I ask my colleagues to please continue to 
understand the importance of recognizing and funding our foster care 
program.

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