On the recordMay 25, 2016
Today is Foster Youth Shadow Day. It is a day that gives Members of Congress a chance to spend time with young adults from our districts who have grown up in the foster care system. I always enjoy this day because it gives me a chance to understand the experience of foster youth and to talk about policies that would help support those children and young adults in that system. I have learned a lot today from Justin and Jameshia, who are here with me. They are two young adults with whom I am spending time. Both have spent years in the foster care system and have grown to be really remarkable young adults. Justin is studying international relations at Michigan State University, and Jameshia just graduated from the University of Michigan-Flint, one of my alma maters, with a degree in social work. Along with their interest in school, they both have dedicated themselves to bettering the lives of other children in Michigan and around the world. Their commitment to raise up kids in my hometown and their hometown of Flint is really inspiring. I am just happy that I am able to get to know them better and to see the passion that they bring to their communities. That passion will take them far. It is important that we hear from people like Justin and Jameshia in order to shape the policies that we make right here in this Congress. I am just glad I could hear what they had to say, and I am glad they could be with us today.…
