[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 13, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Page S1904]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BUNNING (for himself, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. 
        Brownback, Mr. Burr, Mr. Craig, Mr. DeMint, Mr. Domenici, Mr. 
        Hatch, Mrs. Hutchison, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Smith, Mr. 
        Vitter, and Mr. Warner):
  S. 561. A bill to repeal the sunset of the Economic Growth and Tax 
Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 with respect to the expansion of the 
adoption credit and adoption assistance programs; to the Committee on 
Finance.
  Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, I rise today in support of the American 
family and the need to extend important tax relief provisions to help 
make adoption more affordable. The high cost of adoptions causes many 
couples to dismiss adoption as too expensive. By helping to ease this 
financial burden, we can encourage the development of more stable 
families and provide a brighter future for thousands of children.
  These important goals prompted us to act in 2001, when we passed 
important adoption incentives in the form of tax credits. However, 
these provisions are set to expire or ``sunset'' after December 31, 
2010.
  Our entire society benefits when children are placed with loving, 
permanent families. That is why today I am introducing the Adoption Tax 
Relief Guarantee Act with Senator Ben Nelson.
  The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act will permanently extend the 
2001 adoption incentives allowing those Americans who adopt a child to 
continue to receive a credit in the amount of their qualified expenses 
and guarantees the maximum $10,000 credit for those who adopt children 
with special needs. This legislation will help middle class families 
break the financial barriers and successfully adopt a child, especially 
those children with special needs who are in particular need of a 
loving home.
  I am pleased that Senators from both sides of the aisle have 
cosponsored this legislation, and that it has received endorsement from 
the National Council for Adoption and RESOLVE: the National Infertility 
Association. The adoption tax credit and assistance programs have 
already helped countless children and families by making adoption more 
affordable. We owe it to future generations of children in need to make 
these provisions permanent.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the Adoption Tax Relief 
Guarantee Act, be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                 S. 561

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as ``The Adoption Tax Relief 
     Guarantee Act''.

     SEC. 2. REPEAL OF APPLICABILITY OF SUNSET OF THE ECONOMIC 
                   GROWTH AND TAX RELIEF RECONCILIATION ACT OF 
                   2001 WITH RESPECT TO ADOPTION CREDIT AND 
                   ADOPTION ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS.

       Section 901 of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief 
     Reconciliation Act of 2001 is amended by adding at the end 
     the following new subsection:
       ``(c) Exception.--Subsection (a) shall not apply to the 
     amendments made by section 202 (relating to expansion of 
     adoption credit and adoption assistance programs).''.
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