Don Bacon: “I appreciate my colleagues from Indiana and Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5661, the Continued…”

“I appreciate my colleagues from Indiana and Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 5661, the Continued State Flexibility To Assist Older Foster Youth Act. We can all agree that our children and youth have suffered tremendously during this pandemic. Foster youth that aged out of the system are hurting and feel forgotten. We can come together to support these youth through continuing States' flexibility with the Chafee funds to assist older foster youth. The act will allow the emergency Chafee funds flexibilities that we implemented during the pandemic to continue through fiscal year 2022. It will give youth the option to reenter foster care that aged out during the pandemic, remove the living expenses cap, and expand the educational training funds to assist them. We hear more and more from youth that need our help. As a foster-to- adopt parent, I know that our foster youth need our help, and we need to make sure that we hold to our responsibility to fully support them during this crisis. Young adults who have aged out of foster care are the number one risk for homelessness in that age group. Mr. Speaker, we have the opportunity here to make a difference.”