[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 131 (Thursday, September 6, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1820]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING NATIONAL GRANDPARENTS DAY

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 6, 2007

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, I rise today in celebration of National 
Grandparents Day on September 9. In particular, I want to recognize 
those grandparents that have taken on the extraordinary task of raising 
their grandchildren. There is no more valuable contribution that any 
individual can make to our country than raising children in a loving 
home. The fact that grandparents all over the country do this despite 
financial and other hardships is worthy of the highest praise.
  Nationwide, approximately 2.5 million children are being raised by 
their grandparents because their parents are unable to care for them. 
In Alameda County, the area of California that I represent, over 11,000 
grandparents are responsible for meeting the basic needs of their 
grandchildren. Without their grandparents, many of these children would 
end up in foster care placements usually without contact with their 
siblings or the support of their extended family.
  Grandparents can provide the stable homes that allow children to grow 
and thrive. Unfortunately, many grandparents are not financially able 
to take on care of their grandchildren, despite their willingness to do 
so. The Federal Government has a responsibility to provide the 
resources willing grandparents need to care for their grandchildren. 
Our failure to do so will mean that more children enter the foster care 
system, are moved from place to place, and lose their family and 
community connections.
  In the interest of full disclosure, I must state that I am the proud 
grandfather of eight.
  President Carter created a National Grandparents Day in 1978. Nearly 
30 years later grandparents still deserve our highest recognition, but 
they also deserve our support and assistance.

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