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[Page H4017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Nebraska (Mr. Bacon) for 5 minutes.
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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