[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 291 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 291

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.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 29, 2009

   Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Mrs. Lincoln, Mr. Levin, Mr. Burr, Mr. 
Kerry, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Thune, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Menendez, 
Mr. Brownback, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Reid, Mr. Lautenberg, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. 
Vitter, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Inhofe, 
 Mr. Begich, Mrs. Hutchison, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Conrad, Mr. Franken, 
Mr. Johanns, Mr. Hatch, Ms. Collins, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Brown, 
   Mr. Gregg, Mr. Specter, Mr. Casey, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Dodd, and Mr. 
 Risch) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
          Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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 510,000 children in the foster care system in 
        the United States, approximately 129,000 of whom are waiting for 
        families to adopt them;
Whereas 61 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 3 
        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 continued to increase since 
        1998, and more than 26,000 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 2007 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 4 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, more than 25,000 
        children have joined forever families during National Adoption Day;
Whereas, in 2008, adoptions were finalized for over 4,500 children through more 
        than 325 National Adoption Day events in all 50 States, the District of 
        Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam; and
Whereas the President traditionally issues an annual proclamation to declare 
        November as National Adoption Month, and National Adoption Day is on 
        November 21, 2009: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, 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.
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