WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following statement during debate in the U.S. House of Representatives on the Fostering the Future Act (H.R. 7432):
As prepared for delivery.
“I rise in strong support of H.R. 7432, the Fostering the Future Act, bipartisan legislation led by my Ways and Means colleagues, Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood and Congresswoman Gwen Moore.
“This is a historic moment for our Committee and for 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. 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 outspoken champion for foster youth through her Fostering the Future initiative. Truly, she is a voice for the voiceless. Just 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’m proud that this bill codifies key priorities from the Fostering the Future for 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 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 Kimberely 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’s 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.
“I urge my colleagues to support this bill.”