First Lady Melania Trump joined the powerful House Ways and Means Committee today to advance landmark legislation set to protect America’s foster care children.  

“We are gathered here today, not because America’s children rely on us, but rather because America’s children are our moral equals.” Mrs. Trump elevated America’s next generation: “new legislation for the foster care community is a moral imperative.”

Mrs. Trump is advancing the next phase of her legislative agenda to further protect and empower America’s children, following the enactment of the TAKE IT DOWN Act—now federal law with its first conviction already secured—and her Fostering the Future Executive Order. The First Lady highlighted a myriad of reasons to enact bold foster care legislation, including “housing instability, educational advocacy, financial barriers, transportation, continuity, access to technology, and other related issues.”

First Lady Melania Trump is a champion for the foster care community. In 2021, Mrs. Trump established “Fostering the Future,” a BE BEST initiative. Fostering the Future’s mission is to provide individuals from the foster care community with university-level technology education to prepare them to secure entry-level jobs. Fostering the Future includes more than 20 universities across America, including Vanderbilt University, University of Miami, Louisiana State University, University of Virginia, University of Texas, the Ohio State University, and University of Alabama.

The First Lady closed with inspirational words to the congressional leaders: “Beginning here in this room, we can once again change people’s lives. With new legislation, we can ensure that opportunity is more than hopeful for individuals in the foster care community—it can be their birthright.”

The full remarks by First Lady Melania Trump are below.

Action Over Awareness

Thank you, Chairman Smith, for hosting today’s critical discussion surrounding America’s foster care community. Good afternoon, Chairman LaHood and Ranking Member Davis. Your efforts to shape new legislation within your Subcommittee are of tremendous value to our nation. And to all the Representatives of this prestigious Committee who have worked so hard to introduce decisive reform within foster care, Mr. Miller, Ms. Chu, Mr. Moran, Mr. Yakym, Ms. Moore, Mr. Evans, and Mr. Carey—thank you.

I would also like to extend my warm welcome to all of the Congresspeople in attendance today—your bipartisan support is appreciated. And finally, a special thank you to Jocelyn Roni Fetting and Jaydan Matinez.

We are gathered here today, not because America’s children rely on us, but rather because America’s children are our moral equals.

As parents and leaders, it is our ethical obligation to ensure American children develop emotionally and physically within a safe environment. As a community, we strive to nurture our children’s curiosity, protect their innocence, and guide them with hearts full of care. Through respect, participation, and protection, American parents deliver the essentials to our next generation: housing, nutrition, clothing, and healthcare.  

In safeguarding our children’s well-being, we shape the integrity of our nation. But to get there, a strong knowledge base is required. Education is the cornerstone of a child’s future. Clearly, education is the foundation that can remain throughout one’s lifetime.  Yes, knowledge is permanent.

In 2021, I launched Fostering the Future: a nationwide initiative to provide individuals from the foster care community with access to education at the university level. 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.

When I first developed Fostering the Future, one thing became very clear: the foster care community requires action over awareness. This truth stands today.  

I am proud to share that Fostering the Future currently maintains a footprint of over 20 Universities across the country, from coast to coast. In fact, academic institutions such as Vanderbilt University, the University of Miami, Louisiana State University (LSU), University of Virginia (UVA), the University of Texas, the Ohio State University, and the University of Alabama all educate Fostering the Future students.

Although reports vary, roughly three percent of individuals in the foster care community earned a college degree in 2025. We can close this gap.

But still, foster youth face a special set of challenges outside the classroom that have a serious impact on their academic performance. These issues include housing instability, educational advocacy, financial barriers, transportation, continuity, access to technology, and other related issues.  

New legislation for the foster care community is a moral imperative.  

Some of you joined me in the White House last November for the signing of the Fostering the Future Executive Order. And although the EO is a transformative vision, Congress now has the opportunity to create a lasting positive impact on this community. Beginning here in this room, we can once again change people’s lives. With new legislation, we can ensure that opportunity is more than hopeful for individuals in the foster care community—it can be their birthright.