EXCLUSIVE: Daines Moves to Revamp Foster Care System

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., will introduce bipartisan legislation Thursday to codify key aspects of first lady Melania Trump’s “Fostering the Future” initiative.

The move comes after the first lady made a rare trip to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, where she addressed members of the House Ways and Means Committee and urged Congress to put her foster care initiatives into law.

“New legislation for the foster care community is a moral imperative,” Trump told the committee.

Daines, along with co-sponsor Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., will bring the Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act to the Senate.

The bill incorporates language from a November presidential executive order expanding educational opportunities for children in the foster care system, and it creates additional workforce pathways for those transitioning out of care.

“One of the greatest gifts that we can give our children is the opportunity to succeed,” Daines told The Daily Signal.

“Unfortunately, foster youth aging out of the system often lack access to the education and workforce training needed to build a career, especially in rural states like Montana,” he added.

Each year, more than 20,000 children age out of the foster care system and face barriers to employment and education. By their mid-20s, former foster youth earn roughly 50% less than their peers.

The legislation would expand education and training vouchers from $5,000 to $12,000 annually and allow the funds to be used more flexibly for apprenticeships and technical education. The bill also targets challenges in rural states, including transportation gaps and complex application processes.

“My goal is to prepare these individuals to secure entry-level jobs, become financially independent, and eventually innovate, create new businesses, and generate employment opportunities,” Trump said during the committee hearing.

“Our bill will support the first lady’s efforts to improve pathways to success for America’s foster youth and set them up for a bright future,” Daines said. “I’ll fight to get it across the finish line.”

Daines noted that companion legislation has been introduced in the House by Reps. Nathaniel Moran, R-Texas; Max Miller, R-Ohio; Dwight Evans, D-Pa.; and Judy Chu, D-Calif.