[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 25 (Monday, June 28, 1999)]
[Page 1184]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on House Action on the ``Foster Care Independence Act of 
1999''

June 25, 1999

    Hillary and I are pleased that the House of Representatives, by an 
overwhelming bipartisan margin, today approved H.R. 1802, the ``Foster 
Care Independence Act of 1999.'' This legislation recognizes that we 
have a responsibility to ensure that youth in foster care have the tools 
they need to make the most of their lives. I am pleased that the measure 
builds on the proposals in my budget request to provide those leaving 
foster care with access to health care and to expand and improve 
educational opportunities, training, housing assistance, counseling, and 
other support and services.
    Each year, approximately 20,000 young people leave our Nation's 
foster care system at age 18 without an adoptive family or other 
permanent family relationship, but Federal financial support ends just 
as they are making the critical transition to independence. Without the 
emotional, social, and financial support that families provide, many of 
these young people are not adequately prepared for life on their own.
    For our Nation's foster youth, their 18th birthday can be the start 
of a very tough road alone. This bill is an important step forward to 
help them in their struggle to become successful, independent adults. 
The end of foster care should not be the end of caring for these young 
people.
    I'd like to thank Representatives Nancy Johnson and Ben Cardin, the 
sponsors of the ``Foster Care Independence Act of 1999,'' for their hard 
work and dedication to this issue. I look forward to working with them 
and with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle in the months 
ahead to enact meaningful and fiscally responsible legislation to enable 
these young people to live up to their God-given potential.

Note: The release issued by the Office of the Press Secretary also 
announced that audio remarks by the President would be available on the 
White House Press Office Radio Actuality Line.