Chairman Smith at Foster Care Legislation Markup: Bipartisan Policy Will Help Foster Youth Lead Independent Lives

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) delivered the following statement at a committee markup of six bipartisan bills modernizing the John H. Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood ("Chafee").

As prepared for delivery.

Today the Ways and Means Committee will consider six bipartisan bills to modernize the Chafee program and provide the most significant reforms since its creation in 1999. During my time as Chairman, I have made it a point to make sure federal programs in our jurisdiction are authorized and work for the people they are intended to serve.

The Chafee program helps current and former foster youth gain employment, obtain housing, pursue postsecondary education, and create meaningful connections with other adults as they transition to independence.

Each year, nearly 16,000 foster youth age out of the foster care program. Young adults who age out of foster care at age 18 experience high rates of homelessness and are less likely to graduate from high school, gain employment, or enroll in post-secondary education compared to their peers.

Foster youth deserve the same chance at a good education, meaningful work, and fulfilling relationships as every other child in America.

I want to thank all of our Members who joined us earlier this month for the remarkable roundtable discussion we held with First Lady Melania Trump and our two foster youth leaders, Joceyln and Jaydan. These six bills we are considering today are strongly aligned with the First Lady's Fostering the Future Initiative and would codify many of the policies laid out in the President's Executive Order.

Not only did that roundtable demonstrate bipartisan agreement on foster care policy, it also showed the momentum for getting reforms passed into law.

That momentum is desperately needed. Hearings we've held in the Work and Welfare Subcommittee have revealed the current program's failings.

Education and Training Vouchers do not allow foster youth to pursue alternatives to college. Program fragmentation exists across federal programs supporting them, forcing foster youth to navigate a web of complex services. And many foster youth report being unaware of the services available to them through Chafee.

The Government Accountability Office published a report last year that found states have been returning Chafee funds since at least 2007. Each year, 30 or so states return about $6 to $11 million, despite evidence of unmet need.

During our roundtable, I made a commitment to the First Lady that this Committee will advance reforms to Chafee. Today, we are following through on that commitment. The bipartisan bills before us are solutions that better help foster youth lead independent lives.

Our first bill introduced by Representatives LaHood and Gwen Moore addresses stable housing, a top issue for foster youth, by strengthening coordination between Chafee and the Foster Youth to Independence housing voucher program.

Legislation from Representatives Chu and Moran increases financial support for foster youth pursuing postsecondary education and bolsters state efforts to make students aware of Education and Training Vouchers, or ETVs.

The next bill led by Representatives Max Miller and Evans allows ETVs to pay for short-term workforce and vocational training and credentialing programs. This reform opens new career paths for foster youth that may have been previously unavailable to them.

The Committee will then mark up legislation introduced by Work and Welfare Subcommittee Ranking Member Davis and Chairman LaHood that expands access to legal services for foster youth and requires states to consider legal issues commonly facing foster youth as a part of case management planning.

Legislation from Representatives Yakym and Davis expands access to the MIECHV program, a home visiting program for expectant mothers or women with young children, to foster youth who are themselves parenting or soon to be parents.

Our final bill, introduced by Representatives Gwen Moore and Carey, updates the purposes of the Chafee program to include the importance of foster youth developing and maintaining meaningful connections with trusted adults and lifelong support networks.

Each of these bills incorporates and reflects the feedback we have received from foster youth with lived experience. Thank you to each of our bill sponsors for pushing important bipartisan reforms that will empower America's foster youth.

I want to especially thank Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman LaHood for his leadership in bringing these bills together and to our Members on both sides of the aisle who have worked to get us to this day.