III 110th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 384 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 15, 2007 Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Mr. Coleman, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Craig, Mr. Brownback, Mr. Casey, Mrs. Clinton, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Thune, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Levin, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Inouye, and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the children awaiting families, celebrating children and families involved in adoption, and encouraging Americans to secure safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.

Whereas there are approximately 514,000 children in the foster care system in the United States, approximately 115,000 of whom are waiting for families to adopt them; Whereas 52 percent of the children in foster care are age 10 or younger; Whereas the average length of time a child spends in foster care is over 2 years; Whereas, for many foster children, the wait for a loving family in which they are nurtured, comforted, and protected seems endless; Whereas the number of youth who age out of foster care by reaching adulthood without being placed in a permanent home has increased by 41 percent since 1998, and nearly 25,000 foster youth age out every year; Whereas every day loving and nurturing families are strengthened and expanded when committed and dedicated individuals make an important difference in the life of a child through adoption; Whereas a recent survey conducted by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption demonstrated that though Americans overwhelmingly support the concept of adoption, and in particular foster care adoption … foster care adoptions have not increased significantly over the past five years; Whereas, while 3 in 10 Americans have considered adoption, a majority of Americans have misperceptions about the process of adopting children from foster care and the children who are eligible for adoption; Whereas 71 percent of those who have considered adoption consider adopting children from foster care above other forms of adoption; Whereas 45 percent of Americans believe that children enter the foster care system because of juvenile delinquency, when in reality the vast majority of children who have entered the foster care system were victims of neglect, abandonment, or abuse; Whereas 46 percent of Americans believe that foster care adoption is expensive, when in reality there is no substantial cost for adopting from foster care and financial support is available to adoptive parents after the adoption is finalized; Whereas both National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month occur in November; Whereas National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to find permanent, loving families for children in the foster care system; Whereas, since the first National Adoption Day in 2000, nearly 17,000 children have joined forever families during National Adoption Day; Whereas, in 2006, adoptions were finalized for over 3,300 children through more than 250 National Adoption Day events in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico; and Whereas, on October 31, 2007, the President proclaimed November 2007 as National Adoption Month, and National Adoption Day is on November 17, 2007: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)supports the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month; (2)recognizes that every child should have a permanent and loving family; and (3)encourages the citizens of the United States to consider adoption during the month of November and all throughout the year.