First Lady Melania Trump appeared before the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday to push for landmark legislation aimed at protecting and empowering children in the foster care system.
Speaking to lawmakers, Trump framed the issue as a moral obligation.
“We are gathered here today, not because America’s children rely on us, but rather because America’s children are our moral equals,” she said. “New legislation for the foster care community is a moral imperative.”
The appearance advances the next phase of her agenda to support America’s children, following the enactment of the TAKE IT DOWN Act and the signing of her Fostering the Future Executive Order, as previously covered by The Dallas Express. She cited persistent challenges facing foster youth, including housing instability, educational advocacy, financial barriers, transportation, continuity, access to technology, and other related issues.
In 2021, Trump launched Fostering the Future, a BE BEST initiative that provides university-level technology education to help individuals from the foster care community secure entry-level jobs and achieve financial independence. The program now includes more than 20 universities nationwide, among them Vanderbilt University, the University of Miami, Louisiana State University, the University of Virginia, the University of Texas, the Ohio State University, and the University of Alabama.
Trump told committee members that only about 3% of individuals in foster care earned a college degree in 2025 and urged lawmakers to close that gap through legislation.
“Beginning here in this room, we can once again change people’s lives,” she said. “With new legislation, we can ensure that opportunity is more than hopeful for individuals in the foster care community — it can be their birthright.”
She thanked Chairman Smith for hosting the discussion and acknowledged the bipartisan efforts of Chairman LaHood, Ranking Member Davis, and other representatives.
Trump emphasized the need for “action over awareness,” calling education “the cornerstone of a child’s future” and a foundation that lasts a lifetime.