Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, in December, we worked together to take action to help foster youth through the pandemic so they could build a stronger, more stable future. That bill, called the Supporting Foster Youth Through the Pandemic Act, provided much-needed additional support for foster youth and families, at-risk pregnant women and mothers, and kinship caregivers, including grandparents. Mr. Speaker, the bill included $400 million in funding to assist States in supporting foster youth transitioning to adulthood during the pandemic. That relief has provided a lifeline for thousands of youth to get back to school, back into jobs, and on the path of self- sufficiency. As COVID-19 continues to spur instability, young people with experience in foster care still face significant challenges to meet their basic needs and to access critical funds and services. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 75 percent of these funds remain unobligated by States as of September 30, 2021, and States have another year to spend. In recognition of the needs of foster youth, this bill would extend those key programmatic flexibilities for another year. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support these vulnerable foster youth by voting for H.R. 5661, and I yield back the balance of my time. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K.…”