{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.daines.senate.gov/2026/04/16/in-the-news-daily-signal-exclusive-daines-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-codify-first-ladys-foster-care-initiatives/", "In the News: Daily Signal Exclusive: Daines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Codify First Lady\u2019s Foster Care Initiatives", "2026-04-16", "2026", "2026-04", "Republican", "Senate", "MT", "Steve Daines", "D000618", "www.daines.senate.gov", "daines", "https://www.daines.senate.gov/news/press-releases/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Steve Daines will introduce a bill today to codify First Lady Melania Trump\u2019s foster care initiatives. Read more in the Daily Signal below.\n\nDaines Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Codify First Lady\u2019s Foster Care Initiatives\n\nDaily Signal\n\nVirginia Grace McKinnon\n\nApril 16th, 2026\n\nFIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL\u2014Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont., will introduce bipartisan legislation Thursday to codify key aspects of first lady Melania Trump\u2019s \u201cFostering the Future\u201d initiative.\n\nThe move comes after the first lady made a rare trip to Capitol Hill on Wednesday, where she addressed members of the House Ways and Means Committee and urged Congress to put her foster care initiatives into law.\n\n\u201cNew legislation for the foster care community is a moral imperative,\u201d Trump told the committee.\n\nDaines, along with co-sponsor Sen. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., will bring the Foster Youth Education and Workforce Opportunity Act to the Senate.\n\nThe bill incorporates language from a November presidential executive order expanding educational opportunities for children in the foster care system, and it creates additional workforce pathways for those transitioning out of care.\n\n\u201cOne of the greatest gifts that we can give our children is the opportunity to succeed,\u201d Daines told The Daily Signal.\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, 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,\u201d he added.\n\nEach 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.\n\nThe 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\u2026\n\n\u2026 \u201cOur bill will support the first lady\u2019s efforts to improve pathways to success for America\u2019s foster youth and set them up for a bright future,\u201d Daines said. \u201cI\u2019ll fight to get it across the finish line.\u201d\n\nRead the full story in the Daily Signal HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-17T05:47:03Z", "2026-04-17T05:48:33Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.daines.senate.gov/2026/04/16/in-the-news-daily-signal-exclusive-daines-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-codify-first-ladys-foster-care-initiatives/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7662870921194553, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}