Jay Rockefeller: “I rise today to join Senator Chafee and a bipartisan group in the introduction of the Foster Care Independence Act of…”

“I rise today to join Senator Chafee and a bipartisan group in the introduction of the Foster Care Independence Act of 1999. I would like to thank Senator Chafee for his leadership on behalf of vulnerable young people, including our bipartisan work on this legislation. I also wish to thank the other co-sponsors of this legislation--Senators Reed, Bond, Landrieu, Moynihan, Breaux, Kerrey, Mikulski, and Jeffords. Work on this legislation is based on the foundation created by the bipartisan 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act. Our First Lady, Mrs. Clinton, has also been a special leader on behalf of vulnerable children. In 1997, she helped focus the national spotlight on the need to promote adoption. This year, she has helped to focus much needed attention on the challenges facing teenagers who age out of foster care, and has challenged us to improve the system for such teens by expanding the Independent Living program. In 1997, a unique bipartisan Senate coalition formed to promote adoption and find ways to help our most vulnerable children, those subjected to abuse and neglected.”