Melania Trump Advocates for Foster Care Reform in Rare Capitol Hill Visit
First Lady Melania Trump made a rare appearance on Capitol Hill to join House lawmakers in a roundtable discussion focused on updating the Chafee foster care program. The nearly 30-year-old initiative aims to broaden access to housing, education, and workforce training for youth aging out of the foster system. This legislative push follows President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing the 'Fostering the Future' program, which seeks to improve career and educational opportunities for foster children through public-private partnerships. The First Lady has been actively involved in foster care issues since 2021, complementing her broader 'Be Best' campaign. The visit occurred shortly after Trump denied allegations linking her to Jeffrey Epstein and urged Congress to hold hearings for his victims. It also follows her successful lobbying for the Take It Down Act, which criminalizes the non-consensual publication of intimate images. Bipartisan members of the House Ways and Means Committee support the proposed updates, citing a Government Accountability Office report that highlighted millions in unused funds despite unmet needs among foster youth.
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Melania Trump Advocates for Foster Care Reform in Rare Capitol Hill Visit
First Lady Melania Trump made a rare appearance on Capitol Hill to join House lawmakers in a roundtable discussion focused on updating the Chafee foster care program. The nearly 30-year-old initiative aims to broaden access to housing, education, and workforce training for youth aging out of the foster system. This legislative push follows President Donald Trump’s executive order establishing the 'Fostering the Future' program, which seeks to improve career and educational opportunities for foster children through public-private partnerships. The First Lady has been actively involved in foster care issues since 2021, complementing her broader 'Be Best' campaign. The visit occurred shortly after Trump denied allegations linking her to Jeffrey Epstein and urged Congress to hold hearings for his victims. It also follows her successful lobbying for the Take It Down Act, which criminalizes the non-consensual publication of intimate images. Bipartisan members of the House Ways and Means Committee support the proposed updates, citing a Government Accountability Office report that highlighted millions in unused funds despite unmet needs among foster youth.
AP News