Washington — President Bush signed legislation Thursday that expands programs for at-risk children, and said his fiscal 2003 budget would contain $505 million to encourage adoption, reunite troubled families and find mentors for those with parents in prison.
"When you find a loving family, it makes a huge difference in a child's life," Bush said during a signing ceremony in the East Room. "Our national goal must be to find a loving family for every child that needs one."
Bush said his budget also would propose $60 million for teen-agers who are approaching adulthood in foster care, and $25 million in seed money for programs devoted exclusively to the children of inmates, providing them with role models, academic help or emotional support.
The legislation Bush signed Thursday authorizes up to $67 million for the mentoring effort. White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said advocacy groups had not complained about the $25 million Bush intends to propose.
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