In the News: Daily Signal Exclusive: Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Codify First Lady’s Foster Care Initiatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Senator Steve Daines will introduce a bill today to codify First Lady Melania Trump’s foster care initiatives. Read more in the Daily Signal below.
Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Codify First Lady’s Foster Care Initiatives
Daily Signal
Virginia Grace McKinnon
April 16th, 2026
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 thefirst ladymade a rare trip to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, where she addressed members of the House Ways and Means Committee andurged Congressto 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-sponsorSen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., will bring the Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act to the Senate.
The bill incorporates language from aNovember presidential executive orderexpanding 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…
…“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.”
Read the full story in the Daily SignalHERE.
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