Dear East Texas,
Last week, a major focus for our office in the District was working to support foster care organizations with effective federal policy. The highlight of those efforts centered around attending the Fostering Collective’s annual banquet to present the Angels in Adoption award. More than 1,000 people from East Texas packed the place to show their commitment to foster and adoptive services. As a member of the Work & Welfare Subcommittee for the Committee on Ways & Means, we are the frontline policymakers for foster and adoptive care services.
We followed that evening of excitement up by hosting a Foster Youth Roundtable in Tyler alongside Justin Hayes, Executive Director of The Fostering Collective, to meet with organizations across East Texas who are involved in foster care to understand continued gaps and needed policy changes at the federal level. This roundtable also gave us the opportunity to talk about the Fostering the Future Act, which the House of Representatives passed unanimously earlier this year and which is the first meaningful update to the Chafee Foster Care Program since its inception in 1999. I was proud to author one of the six bills included in this package, and I hope to see the Senate pass it before the end of the year.
Click HERE to see the news stories covering the foster care roundtable.
At the roundtable, I walked through what the legislation actually changes: - Education & workforce training — Expanding Education and Training Vouchers to cover community college, apprenticeships, and workforce credentialing, and raising the maximum voucher from $5,000 to $12,000 per student without increasing annual appropriations.
- Housing — Aligning Chafee program eligibility with HUD housing vouchers, which currently support former foster youth through age 26, so the two systems actually work together instead of against each other.
- Legal and financial support — Making clear that Chafee funds can cover legal counseling for young people navigating custody issues, record clearing, or identity theft recovery.
- Support for expectant and parenting youth — Connecting them to home visiting programs and tailored case management.
- Permanent connections — Helping more of the nearly 16,000 young people who age out of foster care each year build lasting relationships with mentors and kin.
The majority of East Texas is part of DFPS Region 4, and like much of rural Texas, housing continues to be a major issue for former foster youth. Nearly 31% of former foster youth are homeless by age 21. That’s exactly why coordinating housing support and expanding training pathways in fields like healthcare and the skilled trades matters so much here. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation. Now, we need to get the legislation over the finish line. |
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When it comes to the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), which of the following approaches should the federal government prioritize?
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This Year’s Angels in Adoption Honoree |
Angels in Adoption is a Congressional Coalition program that gives members of Congress the chance to spotlight individuals and organizations making a real difference in the lives of children and families through adoption, foster care, and child welfare. This year, that spotlight belongs to the Heart Gallery East Texas, part of The Fostering Collective. It was special to have Angela Coston with me at the event when I recognized Heart Gallery East Texas. She was the honoree for this Congressional District back in 2018 after she founded For The Sake of One, which operates out of Texarkana, Texas.
Spend any time with either of these extraordinary individuals and their teams and you’ll see why. They know these kids’ stories. They celebrate their wins. They keep showing up. And through it all, they’re giving people a chance to see the child behind the circumstances. Because of the Heart Gallery East Texas, a photograph can become a conversation. A conversation can become a connection. And that connection can become a family.
Congratulations to Gillian Sheridan and the entire Heart Gallery East Texas team on this well-deserved recognition. I am grateful for the example you set for East Texas, and for the work that you are doing to change lives and futures. |
Investing in East Texas Healthcare |
UT Tyler recently opened its School of Medicine—the first medical school in East Texas, and one of the most important investments our region has made in its own future.
I was fortunate to tour the new facility and see the impact it is already having. Walking through its labs, simulation centers, and teaching clinics, it was clear that this institution isn’t just training physicians. It’s building the workforce East Texas will need for decades to come. |
Our region faces a projected critical shortage of physicians, and too often, talented students leave for medical school and never return. UT Tyler is changing that, training students who understand our communities and are committed to serving them.
The school’s AiR STREAM initiative (AI for Rural Systems, Technology, Research, Education, and Access in Medicine) is putting artificial intelligence to work on distinctly rural problems—bringing better quality care to our communities.
Under the leadership of President Julie V. Philley, MD, and her exceptional team, students are partnering with UT Health East Texas and regional healthcare systems to serve our community from day one. |
I was also able to make a return visit to the new Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at CHRISTUS Health in Tyler. I first visited seven months ago, and was once again able to see first-hand the loving way that CHRISTUS Health provides critical medical care to seriously ill or injured children. During this most recent visit, I also got a chance to speak with one of the East Texas families served by this new PICU unit—a family from right here in East Texas who did not have to go to Houston or Dallas, but instead could receive top notch pediatric care right here in East Texas. Rural health care matters! |
The Working Families Tax Cuts Transforms Rural Health |
The Working Families Tax Cuts established the Rural Health Transformation Program, allocated $50 billion over five years through the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to strengthen access to care and modernize health systems in rural areas.
Texas is set to receive the largest share of any state—more than $281 million this year. Texas is setting the standard for rural health and we will keep fighting for the best patient outcomes and care. Grateful for this legislation and healthcare leaders across our state. |
Lindale City Manager Retirement: Carolyn Caldwell |
Earlier this month, I joined the Lindale community to celebrate the remarkable career and retirement of Lindale City Manager Carolyn Caldwell.
After years of dedicated leadership, Carolyn is stepping into a well-earned retirement, leaving behind a legacy of progress, collaboration, and service that has helped shape Lindale for generations to come. Her vision, professionalism, and steadfast leadership guided the city through tremendous growth, all while preserving the values that make Lindale such a special place to live, work, and do business. |
On August 27, 1859 Edwin Drake drilled the first successful commercial oil well in the United States in Titusville, Pennsylvania. Drake, a former railroad conductor with no formal background in geology or engineering, had been hired by the Seneca Oil Company to investigate whether petroleum could be extracted in reliable quantities rather than simply gathered by hand from surface pools and streams. |
Dealing with federal agencies can be complicated, and my office is here to help. If you need help with Social Security, the IRS, passport renewals, the VA, or other federal agencies, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office by calling (903) 561-6349 or visiting my website.
It is an honor to be your voice in Congress.
With gratitude, |
Nathaniel Moran Member of Congress |
Answer to Last Week's Texas Trivia Question
⬇️ In 1949, what vehicle was commissioned for King Ranch in South Texas? |
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This Week's Texas Trivia Question
When was Dolly Parton's first performance in Texas? Check back next week for the answer! |
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