Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise today in support of H.R. 5661, the Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act. America's most vulnerable foster youth face unique challenges even in normal times, and the COVID-19 pandemic created even more obstacles to overcome. Nearly 20,000 youth age out of foster care every year. While the COVID pandemic has presented difficulties for all Americans, foster youth and former foster youth are particularly vulnerable, given that they are most likely to be without reliable adults and other kinds of supports in their lives. The Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act would allow States to keep in place important flexibilities in the Chafee child welfare program so they can continue to support vulnerable foster youth in Indiana and across the country. I am grateful to Chairman Davis for his continued partnership in building on our past reforms to help families thrive and this committee's tradition of bipartisan action to protect young people in our foster care system. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”