[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[House]
[Page H4124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             POSTAL SERVICE ISSUES ADOPTION AWARENESS STAMP

  (Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BARRETT of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to remind my 
colleagues that the U.S. Postal Service has recently issued an adoption 
awareness stamp.
  As a proud grandfather of two adopted children, I am particularly 
aware of the need to call attention to this subject and to encourage 
more adoptions. We all know that every child needs support, guidance, 
and understanding of people who care enough to offer love, a home and a 
family. Far too many children in the U.S. are waiting to be adopted. 
Most have special needs, they are older, they often have emotional and 
physical problems; but they still need a home.
  In my State, more than 400 children were placed in adoptive homes 
last year, but there are still 100 or more Nebraska children waiting 
for families right now.
  Although Congress has passed laws to encourage adoption, we need more 
adoptive families, and if adopting a child is not an option, there are 
other ways to help: mentoring, contributing to any of the fine 
organizations that promote adoption, and certainly buying the special 
U.S. Postal Service adoption stamps will help call attention to this 
issue.
  I encourage everyone to help find every child a loving family.

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