[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 55 (Tuesday, May 9, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4239-S4240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH

  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 471 which was submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 471) recognizing that, during 
     National Foster Care Month, the leaders of the Federal, 
     State, and local governments should provide leadership to 
     improve the care given to children in foster care programs.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. VOINOVICH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution

[[Page S4240]]

be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider 
be laid upon the table.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 471) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 471

       Whereas more than 500,000 children are in foster care 
     programs throughout the United States;
       Whereas, while approximately \1/4\ of all children in 
     foster care programs are available for adoption, only about 
     50,000 foster children are adopted each year;
       Whereas many of the children in foster care programs have 
     endured--
       (1) numerous years in the foster care system; and
       (2) frequent moves to and from foster homes;

       Whereas approximately 50 percent of foster care children 
     have been placed in foster care programs for longer than 1 
     year;
       Whereas 25 percent of foster care children have been placed 
     in foster care programs for at least 3 years;
       Whereas children who spend longer amounts of time in foster 
     care programs often experience worse outcomes than children 
     who are placed for shorter periods of time;
       Whereas children who spend time in foster care programs are 
     more likely to--
       (1) become teen parents;
       (2) rely on public assistance when they become adults; and
       (3) interact with the criminal justice system;

       Whereas Federal, State, and local governments--
       (1) share a unique relationship with foster children; and
       (2) have removed children from their homes to better 
     provide for the safety, permanency, and well-being of the 
     children;

       Whereas unfortunately, studies indicate that Federal, 
     State, and local governments have not been entirely 
     successful in caring for foster children;
       Whereas Congress recognizes the commitment of Federal, 
     State, and local governments to ensure the safety and 
     permanency of children placed in foster care programs; and
       Whereas every child deserves a loving family: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes--
       (A) May 2006 as ``National Foster Care Month''; and
       (B) that, during National Foster Care Month, the leaders of 
     the Federal, State, and local governments should rededicate 
     themselves to provide better care to the foster children of 
     the United States; and
       (2) resolves to provide leadership to help identify the 
     role that Federal, State, and local governments should play 
     to ensure that foster children receive appropriate parenting 
     throughout their entire childhood.

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