[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 73 (Thursday, June 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 REPEALING SUNSET OF ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TAX RELIEF RECONCILIATION ACT 
     OF 2001 WITH RESPECT TO EXPANSION OF CERTAIN ADOPTION PROGRAMS

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                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON-LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 4, 2002

  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the 
distinguished gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Camp, for introducing this 
legislation.
  This important legislation expresses the strong sense of Congress 
that Adoption Credit and Adoption Assistance Programs should not 
expire. Many parents who seek to provide a permanent home to a child 
face the high cost of adoption. Thereby discouraging families from 
engaging in the adoption process.
  Families spend between $8,000 and $30,000 to adopt a child. Necessary 
expenses directly related to the legal adoption of a child can include 
court costs, attorney fees, traveling expenses and some unpredictable 
costs. Sec. 202 of H.R. 1836 Expansion of Adoption Credit and Adoption 
Assistance Programs benefits children who need the stability of a 
permanent home by easing the financial burden placed on willing 
families.
  We must do all we can to encourage adoption at this critical time 
when our nation faces a shortage of families willing to provide 
permanent homes for children. As of March 31, 2000, there were 588,000 
children in foster care. Of those children in foster care, more than 
117,000 were waiting to be adopted. Today, that number continues to 
rise.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation prioritizes easing the financial burden 
of the adoption process for families that are prepared to provide homes 
for children in need of them, I ask my colleagues to support this 
important bill.

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