National Foster Care Month

Floor Speech

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Mr. BACON. Madam Speaker, in honor of National Foster Care Month, I would like to address a vital issue in today's foster care system: the need for more foster care parents. I would also like to recognize a few foster care organizations in Nebraska's Second Congressional District. These organizations embrace children in the foster care system and are committed to helping youth find permanent homes through foster parents, so that they, too, can experience love, stability, and the freedom to reach their full potential, regardless of their circumstances.

Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska has been an advocate in the child foster care system for more than 125 years. This year, their mission is to secure 100 foster families who can offer a mature and stable environment.

Boys Town Nebraska, where I was fortunate to speak this last weekend at their high school graduation, directly serves about 30,000 children every year and believes that foster parents are the heart of high- quality foster care by offering children protection, permanency, and comfort.

The Child Saving Institute values the overall well-being of children by offering free, trauma-informed training to individuals and couples who want to serve as foster parents.

And the Nebraska Children's Home Society not only strives to find permanent homes for children, but they also address the need to foster teenagers.

All four of these organizations provide care and assistance to the abused and neglected and encourages the need for foster parents for children of all ages.

Each year, hundreds of Nebraska youth are removed from their homes due to unfortunate circumstances. Many of them fear where they will end up or if they will ever find their forever home.

My wife, Angie, and I adopted two children, Austin and Jessica, from the foster care system when they were just 8 and 9 years old. Even though we already had two sons, we knew that there were not enough homes for older children and siblings. Austin and Jessica are blessings to our family. Even though foster parenting was challenging, choosing to adopt them was one of the best and most rewarding decisions Angie, my wife, and I have ever made.

Even though foster children are hurting, they are just looking for someone to be committed to them and help them succeed. It is time to realize that everyone can play a part in enhancing the lives of children and youth in foster care and that these children just want someone to care for them. It is the hope that one day, through opportunity and lessons, these children will grow up and provide safety for their own children, benefiting future generations.

The idea of children being placed with stable and devoted families is not a partisan issue. I am very appreciative to my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, and I am thankful to serve as a co-chair for the Foster Care Caucus. I will continue to be an advocate for foster children and encourage the need for foster parents. We must remember that every child, no matter the age, is worthy of love and deserves a family.

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