>>/181010/,  >>/181011/,  >>/181012/,  >>/181013/,  >>/181014/,  >>/181015/,  >>/181016/,  >>/181017/,  >>/181018/,  >>/181019/,  >>/181020/,  >>/181021/,  >>/181022/,  >>/181023/,  >>/181024/,  >>/181025/,  >>/181026/,  >>/181027/,  >>/181028/,  >>/181029/,  >>/181030/,  >>/181031/,  >>/181032/,  >>/181033/,  >>/181034/,  >>/181035/,  >>/181036/,  >>/181037/,  >>/181038/,  >>/181039/,  >>/181040/,  >>/181041/,  >>/181042/,  >>/181043/,  >>/181044/,  >>/181045/,  >>/181046/,  >>/181047/,  >>/181048/,  >>/181049/,  >>/181050/,  >>/181051/,  >>/181052/,  >>/181053/,  >>/181054/,  >>/181055/,  >>/181056/,  >>/181057/,  >>/181059/,  >>/181060/,  >>/181061/,  >>/181062/,  >>/181063/,  >>/181064/,  >>/181065/,  >>/181066/
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, LSU, UVA, the University of Texas, the Ohio State University, and the University of Alabama all educate Fostering the Future students.
Although reports vary, roughly 3% 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.”
Shawn McCreesh
The New York Times
Wed. Apr. 15, 2:34 PM
https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2044516528050094372

White House Press Pool Reports @WHPressPool - First Lady Melania Trump Champions New Foster Care Legislation in Congress
Office of the First Lady
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2026
First Lady Melania Trump Champions
New Foster Care Legislation in Congress
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.”
 47