Foster Youth Shadow Day 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Madam Speaker, I rise today to both acknowledge the hardships many foster youths have had to endure, and to celebrate their persistence and determination as they navigate a complex system and transition into adulthood.

In Arkansas, we have almost 5,000 children currently in the state's foster care system. As a Member of the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth, I am proud to join them as an original cosponsor of H. Res. 340, which recognizes the month of May as National Foster Care Month.

For the past four years, I have had the pleasure of a former foster youth personally shadowing me for a day. This year, I am honored to host Michaella Halbert, a former foster youth from my district. The proud mom of two boys, Michaella is a passionate advocate for children within the foster care system. Many foster youths do not have access to a community to help support them in finding a career and a home after they grow out of the foster care system. I applaud Michaella in her efforts to create a better environment and future for children within the system.

I am proud to stand with the Congressional Caucus on Foster Youth in celebration of the Eighth Annual Foster Youth Shadow Day, which gives youth an opportunity to experience firsthand the foundations and principle of the United States Congress, instilling the characteristics of leadership that they can continue to use throughout their lives.

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