Recognizing the importance of connecting foster youth to the workforce through internship programs, and encouraging employers to increase employment of former foster youth.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 1332, ``Recognizing the importance of connecting foster youth to the workforce through internship programs, and encouraging employers to increase employment of former foster youth''. First, I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, Dennis Cardoza of California, for introducing this important piece of legislation. This resolution will recognize the significance of creating links between foster youth and the workplace through internship opportunities while also urging employers to pursue former foster youth. The creation of internship and employment opportunities for current and former foster youths has the potential to dramatically shape the lives of thousands for the better. I strongly encourage my colleagues to support this act.

There are over 500,000 children and youth in foster care. As the youth age out of the system, 50 percent become homeless within the first 18 months of emancipation. Less than half of these youth are employed 2.5-4 years after leaving the system. Only 38 percent remain employed for over a year. Former foster care youth are twice as likely to have children in foster care. This problem is systemic, yet through opportunities and internships we can break this cycle of impoverishment and failure.

This bill is an appeal to our Nation's employers to help us address this issue by providing internships for disadvantaged foster youth, and by providing employment once they ``age-out'' of the foster care system. Such action will instill knowledge and work-ethic. These experiences will open up a new world of opportunity to a group that was struggling, not due to a lack of inherent qualifications, but rather due to the misfortunes of their upbringing.

This resolution will express the desire of Congress to address the problems of foster care youth, and this resolution will express Congress' widespread support of partnerships and initiatives between businesses and foster care programs, to help better prepare foster care youth for the working world.

This resolution seeks to benefit the over 500,000 foster care children and youth by providing them with the opportunity to further themselves through educational and work experiences. As these experiences accrue, they will present the foster youth with an idea of the opportunities latent within their world, and will hopefully inspire them to move forward in pursuit of job and educational opportunities.

As of 2003 there were 26,133 children in the Texas foster care system. Since then, the number has only risen. For many of these children the future will include stints in jail, poverty, and homelessness, yet strong action on the part of businesses and foster care programs in creating internships and partnerships may save many from this fate, leading them to secure jobs and successful lives. I have often concerned myself with issues regarding the safety and success of our future, our Nation's children. By preventing toxic lead levels in houses, by ensuring the safety of children in schools, and by encouraging businesses to form partnerships with foster care, we take small, but significant, steps toward guaranteeing the well-being of our children and the security our Nation's future. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois for his gracious management of this issue, and also my colleague from Minnesota, who spoke so graciously in support of it.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1332, the Fostering Employment Opportunities Act.

I also want to thank Chairman McDermott who is in the House Chamber at this time, and Congressman Fattah, both of whom join me as co- authors of this resolution.

Madam Speaker, there are over a half a million children who have been abused or abandoned, through no fault of their own, who end up in the United States foster care system. While in foster care, many of them experience multiple placements and find it difficult to establish a community.

Madam Speaker, every year, 26,000 young people are discharged from foster care on the midnight of their 18th birthday with few resources to start their own lives. Their health care coverage is terminated in a vast number of States, and with little or no family support, many of them end up homeless or unemployed or in jail.

I have met a number of these youth, and they are remarkable survivors. They have the same hopes and dreams as all other children in America. They want to be mechanics and doctors. They want to serve our country as soldiers and policemen. But they have a harder path to realizing their dream.

Despite their resilience and their other unique qualities that make these youth ideal candidates for employment, statistically, foster youth are the most likely to be unemployed, and comprise 27 percent of the Nation's homeless population. Part of it has to do with the impact of the instability of their younger years. And part is the result of the negative and unjustified stereotypes placed on this population that may cause employers to look past this pool of qualified candidates.

Another part is that many young people today are connected to the workforce through internships, often arranged by their parents, with business or social associates and connections. However, foster youth tend to lack a stable environment due to the number of foster home placements that they have over the course of their lives, and have limited family or community connections. As such, foster youth are not afforded the same opportunities and are often left behind.

This resolution is simple. It encourages employers to look twice at these remarkable young people who are highly qualified, in many cases, and equally deserving.

Madam Speaker, I speak to you today as a father as well as an author of this resolution. A father of two foster children who I am so lucky, my wife and I are so lucky to have adopted, one of whom is with me today, my daughter, Elaina. She, luckily has a home now. It is a permanent home. That wasn't always the case for her. We are just looking to offer the same kinds of opportunities that this country will offer Elaina now, to every foster youth in the country.

I urge my colleagues to support this resolution.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I too rise today in support of House Resolution 1332, which recognizes the importance of connecting foster youth to the workplace. This resolution also encourages employers to employ former foster youth.

On any given day, Madam Speaker, there are more than 500,000 youth in foster care in the United States. Children are placed in foster care when their parents are no longer able to ensure their essential well- being. These children need stable loving care until they can either safely reunite with their families or cultivate other lasting relationships with nurturing adults.

Foster youth possess unique qualities and skills that make them ideal candidates for employment. But compared to youth nationally and youth from low-income families, they are less likely to be employed or employed regularly.

Foster youth experience challenges based on the instability in their home and school environments. Just over half of all foster youth complete high school. 30 percent continue to rely on public assistance into adulthood, and 25 percent will experience homelessness at one point in their lives.

Without positive intervention, youth who age out of foster care often have bouts of homelessness, criminal activity and incarceration. However, when afforded comprehensive support, the resilient foster youth population excels in the job market.

Foster youth who begin connecting to the workforce prior to release from foster care maintain the highest probability of employment. By addressing job readiness early in the transition to adulthood, employers are helping to shape the future trajectories of these youth.

This resolution encourages employers of all sectors, including Federal, State and local government agencies, to increase employment of the young men and women who have been discharged from foster care in the United States. By connecting foster youth to the workforce through internship programs, employers can assist in building the foundation for these youth to become successful members of the workforce and to build successful careers. That is why I stand in support of this resolution and ask for all my colleagues support.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I have no other speakers on this side, so I will just yield myself a moment, if I might, to say well done to my colleague from California, and to urge all my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1332) recognizing the importance of connecting foster youth to the workforce through internship programs, and encouraging employers to increase employment of former foster youth.

Madam Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House Resolution 1332 into the Record.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise today in support of House Resolution 1332, which recognizes the importance of connecting foster youth to employment opportunities. The foster care system currently serves 500,000 youth. Out of those 500,000 foster youth, 25 percent of them become homeless within 18 months after aging out of the system. Many of these young people find themselves on the street with few resources. Not only are they without housing and a family support system, but they also lack work experience that can help them reverse their downward slide.

The resolution before us today points out the importance of connecting youth to the workforce through internship programs and, in particular, how foster kids can benefit from these opportunities.

Orphan Foundation of America's Intern American program offers foster youth top-tier internships, housing and professional development seminars here in our Nation's Capital. Some of these great internships coordinated by OFA's Intern American program are with Members of Congress, Fortune 500

companies and major not-for-profit organizations. These work experiences allow foster children to develop talents and increase their skill sets.

Young people who have early work experiences are better prepared to succeed in the workforce. Unfortunately, many foster youth are unaware of the opportunities to gain this experience. House Resolution 1332 encourages employers from all sectors to increase employment opportunities for young people who were in the foster care system.

Madam Speaker, once again I express my support for this resolution, and I urge my colleagues to pass this bill.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I would like to yield as much time as he may consume to the author of this House resolution that is so vital, Representative Cardoza from California.

Madam Speaker, again I just want to thank the author of this incredibly wonderful resolution, Representative Cardoza from California, and commend him for the hard work and dedication that he put into this effort.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.