[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 959 Engrossed in House (EH)]








H. Res. 959

                In the House of Representatives, U. S.,

                                                    September 19, 2006.
Whereas since the passage of the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997, the 
        number of children adopted from foster care has increased significantly, 
        with approximately 51,000 children adopted from foster care in fiscal 
        year 2004 alone;
Whereas despite this remarkable progress, approximately 118,000 children in the 
        United States foster care system are waiting to be adopted, and 49 
        percent of these children are at least nine years old;
Whereas adoptive families make an important difference in the lives of the 
        children they adopt by providing a stable, nurturing environment for 
        those children;
Whereas National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to find permanent, 
        loving families for children in foster care;
Whereas both National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month are in November;
Whereas the Department of Health and Human Services launched a series of public 
        service announcements promoting the adoption of children eight and older 
        in 2002;
Whereas more than 6,000 children have been placed into adoptive homes since the 
        Department of Health and Human Services launched www.adoptuskids.org, a 
        national photo listing service for children awaiting adoption across the 
        United States;
Whereas judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child welfare agencies, and 
        child advocates in 45 States and the District of Columbia participated 
        in 227 events in conjunction with National Adoption Day in 2005; and
Whereas these events finalized the adoptions of more than 3,300 children from 
        foster care: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes and supports the success of the Adoption and Safe 
        Families Act of 1997 and of the efforts it has spurred;
            (2) recognizes and supports the goals and ideals of National 
        Adoption Day and National Adoption Month; and
            (3) encourages adoption throughout the year.
            Attest:

                                                                          Clerk.