ICYMI: LaHood Joins First Lady Melania Trump and Ways and Means Colleagues for Roundtable Discussion on Improving Outcomes for Foster Youth

Washington, D.C. - Last week, Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16), joined First Lady Melania Trump and fellow members of the Ways and Means Committee for a roundtable discussion focused on improving outcomes for youth aging out of foster care through reforms to the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood (Chafee). The Chafee program provides support to foster youth and former foster youth as they transition to adulthood. Congressman LaHood is the Chairman of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee, which has held multiple hearings on ways to modernize the Chaffee program to better serve the most vulnerable among us.

"The First Lady has been instrumental in creating meaningful, positive change for foster youth through her 'Be Best' and 'Fostering the Future' initiatives," said Rep. LaHood. "It was an honor to have her in attendance today to provide her insight and discuss the policies we are focused on to improve the foster care system. I look forward to continuing to partner with the First Lady, and my colleagues in a bipartisan manner, to ensure that our foster youth have the tools they need to achieve greater opportunity and long-term success."

Watch Rep. LaHood's Opening Statement Below

Background:

• Congressman LaHood is the Chairman of the Work and Welfare Subcommittee, where he leads oversight of federal child welfare programs and efforts to modernize support for foster youth.
• The Subcommittee on Work and Welfare has been examining how technology and innovation can strengthen federal child welfare programs and better support transition-age foster youth.
• This roundtable follows a series of hearings led by Chairman LaHood on the Chafee Foster Care Program and his participation in the White House signing of the Fostering the Future for American Children and Families Executive Order, which called for modernizing state child welfare systems.
• Recent hearings have highlighted that many foster youth are unaware of available Chafee resources and that some states face challenges accessing federal funds.

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Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2026/4/icymi-lahood-joins-first-lady-melania-trump-and-ways-and-means-colleagues-for-roundtable-discussion-on-improving-outcomes-for-foster-youth