[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 76 (Tuesday, June 11, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5339-S5340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST

  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I have a unanimous consent request to 
propose. This unanimous consent is to pass a badly needed permanent 
extension of the adoption tax credit. If we do not pass this extension 
that was part of President Bush's tax relief bill of last year, it will 
sunset.
  If the adoption tax credit is allowed to sunset, the following things 
will happen: The adoption tax credit will be cut overnight from a 
maximum of $10,000 to $5,000. Families adopting special needs children 
will no longer receive a flat $10,000 credit; instead, they will be 
limited to a maximum of $6,000. The tax credit no longer will be 
permitted if we have to extend it each year. Families claiming the tax 
credit may be pushed into AMT, alternative minimum taxes. The income 
caps will fall from $150,000 to $75,000 so that fewer families will be 
eligible for the credit.
  There are over 500,000 kids in foster care right now. Let's help them 
find loving homes. Let's make it easier for families to adopt, not 
throw up barriers.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the request of the 
Senator?
  Mr. KENNEDY. I object.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The objection is heard.
  Mr. BUNNING. May I carry on a colloquy with the Senator from 
Massachusetts?
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator has made a request to engage in a 
colloquy with the Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. I would be more than glad to engage in a colloquy.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. BUNNING. I ask the Senator from Massachusetts, does he have a 
specific objection to the permanent extension of the adoption tax 
credit at this time for some specific reason?
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I am doing it on behalf of the leadership 
because I understand we have Members who want to offer amendments and 
have a somewhat different view than the Senator from Kentucky and want 
the opportunity to do so and have that determined by the Senate.
  For that reason, I object.
  Mr. BUNNING. I understand the objection. I hope when the other 
objectors come forward, we will have an opportunity to discuss this 
permanent extension of the adoption tax credit and to try to work with 
whoever the objectors are on that side to make it possible that we have 
this extension made permanent so families can adopt and continue to get 
the permanent $10,000 tax credit under which they are now operating. My 
fear is that will expire and then we will have all kinds of bad 
consequences.
  I thank the Senator and I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Massachusetts.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I say to the Senator from Kentucky, I 
think the objective of the Senator is enormously worthwhile. I may very 
well come out and support the proposal of the Senator from Kentucky. I 
have been notified by the leadership there are those who have a 
proposal that may have some different features and they would like to 
be heard on that particular proposal, but I thank the Senator. I think 
the issues on adoption are enormously important. I think the idea of 
trying to provide assistance to those families is incredibly valuable.
  I have had the opportunity, for example, to have hearings on families 
from Canada with grown children who have adopted children with special 
needs. They adopted these children who had special needs even though 
they had younger children because, under the Canadian health care 
system, they offset the medical aspects of the special needs children.
  I asked the mother why she adopted special needs children when she 
had three or four children of her own. Her response was she wanted her 
children to understand what love was really all about.
  I may very well support the Senator and try to go even further than 
the Senator from Kentucky. I admire him for raising the issue on the 
floor, and I only object because of what I have been notified by the 
leadership.
  Mr. BUNNING. If the Senator will yield, my personal interest goes 
beyond just the permanent credit. I have a daughter who had four 
children and adopted a special needs child, and then had seven more 
children after that. So I am very familiar with the change in life and 
the loving care that comes with adopting a special needs child. I am 
just fearful the Senate will not act in a reasonable manner to make 
sure this credit becomes permanent. That is my reason for bringing it 
up at this time.
  I understand the objection of the Senator.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Since I am the one who objected, I say I will bring it 
up with the chairman of the Finance Committee and ask him if he would 
talk to the Senator from Kentucky about what their plans are and urge 
him to give us an opportunity to address this issue.

[[Page S5340]]

  Mr. BUNNING. I thank the Senator and yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Florida.

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