[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 302 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 302

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 the people of the United States to secure 
          safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            October 20, 2011

 Ms. Landrieu (for herself, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Kerry, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. 
  Wyden, Mr. Lautenberg, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Blunt, Mr. 
   Lugar, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Levin, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Collins, Mr. 
 Baucus, Mr. Moran, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Johnson of 
 South Dakota, Mr. Brown of Ohio, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Thune, Mr. Merkley, 
  Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Risch, Mr. Begich, and Mr. Enzi) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

                           November 16, 2011

             Committee discharged; 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 the people of the United States to secure 
          safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.

Whereas there are approximately 408,000 children in the foster care system in 
        the United States, approximately 107,000 of whom are waiting for 
        families to adopt them;
Whereas 56 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 more than 2 
        years;
Whereas for many foster children, the wait for a loving family in which they are 
        nurtured, comforted, and protected seems endless;
Whereas in 2010, nearly 28,000 youth ``aged out'' of foster care by reaching 
        adulthood without being placed in a permanent home;
Whereas everyday, 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 the 
        month of 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 35,000 children 
        have joined forever families during National Adoption Day;
Whereas in 2010, adoptions were finalized for nearly 5,000 children through 400 
        National Adoption Day events in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
        and Puerto Rico; and
Whereas the President traditionally issues an annual proclamation to declare the 
        month of November as National Adoption Month, and National Adoption Day 
        is on November 19, 2011: 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 people of the United States to consider 
        adoption during the month of November and all throughout the 
        year.
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