ICYMI: LaHood, Smith Join President Trump and First Lady for Historic Investment in Foster Youth

Washington, D.C. - Yesterday, Work and Welfare Subcommittee Chairman Darin LaHood (IL-16) and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) joined President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at the White House for the signing of the Fostering the Future for American Children and Families Executive Order.

"It was a privilege to join President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump today at the White House for the signing of the Fostering the Future for American Children and Families Executive Order," said Representative LaHood. "This Executive Order delivers real results for youth transitioning out of foster care by expanding opportunities to further their education, obtain housing, and access resources that will help them lead successful lives.

"As Chairman of the Ways and Means Work & Welfare Subcommittee, I've been proud to partner with the Administration to strengthen families and improve outcomes for children in foster care. Today's signing was a historic investment in the success of future generations. I look forward to continuing to work with the President, First Lady, and my colleagues to advance meaningful reforms to our foster care system and ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive."

"Through this executive order, President Trump and the First Lady are helping foster youth have better futures. Before I came to Congress, I practiced family law and saw firsthand the impacts of the child welfare system on children and families," said Chairman Smith. "At the Committee on Ways and Means, one of our top priorities has been to elevate the voices of regular Americans, including children in foster care, and finding ways to work together to improve the child welfare system. This latest action by the Trump Administration will help inform our work on the Committee to advance solutions to improve our foster youth programs.

"Last Congress, our Committee passed a historic reauthorization of child welfare programs under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act, enacting the most significant reforms to the program since 2008.

"We have spent this year looking at another program in our jurisdiction, the Chafee Foster Care Program for Successful Transition to Adulthood, with the same goal of enacting needed bipartisan reforms. This program exclusively serves some of our nation's most vulnerable youth, those aging out of foster care without connections to family or supportive adults. We are holding a second hearing on the program next week to learn from industry leaders about how technology can be used to improve outcomes.

"We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Trump Administration to do everything we can to maximize support for youth in foster care."

BACKGROUND:

• On Thursday, November 13th at 2:00pm the White House held a signing ceremony for an Executive Order (EO) titled, "Fostering the Future for American Children and Families." The EO focuses on ways to strengthen support for youth in foster care and those transitioning into adulthood by improving coordination of federal programs. Fostering the Future is an initiative led by the First Lady.
  
  
• The EO includes a focus on supporting foster youth, including assistance with housing, education, and training.

• This aligns with Chairman LaHood's work in the 118th Congress where he was the lead sponsor of the Supporting America's Children and Families Act (H.R. 9076), which was ultimately signed into law in January 2025, marking the first meaningful reform to Title IV-B program since 2008.
  
  
• In the 119th Congress, the Work & Welfare Subcommittee is focused on ways to improve outcomes for foster youth to support success in adulthood and life. Nearly 16,000 youth age out of foster care each year without permanent connections to family. These youth face significant challenges living independently:
  
  • Only 50% of foster children finish high school, and only three percent of former foster children obtain a college degree. Twenty percent of the children in foster care will become homeless after aging out of the system, and only half will have gainful employment by the age of 24.

SUBCOMMITTEE WORK ON CHAFEE:

• Hearings: On Tuesday, Nov. 18th, the Subcommittee will hold its second hearing in 2025 on Chafee to look at ways to modernize the program to better serve foster youth and former foster youth.
  • June 12, 2025: "Aging Out is Not a Plan: Reimagining Futures for Foster Youth" (The full hearing can be found HERE)
  • November 18, 2025: "Leaving the Sticky Notes Behind: Harnessing Innovation and New Technology to Help America's Foster Youth Succeed." (The hearing advisory can be found HERE)

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Permalink: https://lahood.house.gov/2025/11/icymi-lahood-smith-join-president-trump-and-first-lady-for-historic-investment-in-foster-youth