[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 177 (Thursday, November 15, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14572-S14573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SUPPORTING THE GOALS OF NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY AND NATIONAL ADOPTION 
                                 MONTH

  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 384, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 384) expressing support for the goals 
     of National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month by 
     promoting national awareness of adoption and the children 
     awaiting families, celebrating children and families involved 
     in adoption, and encouraging Americans to secure safety, 
     permanency, and well-being for all children.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of National 
Adoption Day and National Adoption Month. Senator Coleman and I 
understand that later today the Senate will consider our resolution 
recognizing National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month.
  Every child should have a loving and permanent family. The Hague 
Convention recognizes ``that the child, for the full and harmonious 
development of his or her personality, should grow up in a family 
environment, in an atmosphere of happiness, love and understanding.'' 
Unfortunately, not all children have a family of their own. However, 
through adoption a child can have a ``forever family.''
  President Bush has recognized the importance of adoption to children 
and our Nation. Thus, he has declared November to be National Adoption 
Month. Nearly half of all Americans have been touched by adoption.
  In 2002, 151,332 children found ``forever families,'' a significant 
increase from 119,766 in 1996. 21,063 of these children were born in 
another country and adopted by American families. Public agency 
adoptions have more than doubled since 1995. The National Council for 
Adoption attributes the increase ``in part to the Adoption and Safe 
Families Act of 1997's Adoption Incentive Program, which awards 
financial incentives to States for placing foster children into 
adoptive homes.'' Seven States: Arizona, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, North 
Carolina, Oklahoma, and Wyoming, quadrupled the annual number of public 
agency adoptions from 1995 to 2005. Over 7,000 children who are part of 
the public child welfare system are adopted every year in California, 
which is the highest number of all 50 States. However, only 10 percent 
of the 513,000 children in foster care will ever be adopted.
  National Adoption Day occurs on November 17 as a part of National 
Adoption Month. National Adoption Day is an event to raise awareness of 
the 114,000 children in foster care who are waiting for permanent 
families. Since the first National Adoption Day in 2000, nearly 17,000 
children have joined ``forever families'' on this special day. This 
year we hope to have events in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, 
and Puerto Rico. Over l90 events in 48 States, the District of 
Columbia, and Puerto Rico are planned for this Saturday to finalize the 
adoption of over 3,000 foster children and youth.
  I want you to picture what happens on this fall day, children 
running, laughing, and playing with their new parent. Think about a 
girl or boy planning their special outfit and joyously awaiting the 
family celebration. Imagine the excitement welling up inside of a child 
as she looks into her new parent's eyes and knows she is finally part 
of a family. She will never dread the sound of a car coming to take her 
away again or wonder where she will lay her head or which school she 
will be moved to.
  Now picture the other dramatically different reality. In 2005, there 
were 514,000 children in foster care and 115,000 of them were waiting 
to be adopted. The following States have the largest number of children 
in their foster care system: California, Florida, Michigan, New York, 
Pennsylvania, and Texas. Between fiscal years 2000 and 2005, States 
made progress in reducing the number of children in their foster care 
systems, such as Illinois, 34 percent reduction, and New York, 35 
percent reduction. These children have not had the luxury of their own 
room, a stable school environment, or a constant adult in their lives. 
Though the average percentage of children in foster care who are 
waiting to be adopted is 24 percent, some States have percentages as 
low as 5 percent,--California--and as high as 38 percent--New Jersey 
and South Carolina.

  Of the 52,000 foster children who were adopted, 60 percent of them 
were adopted by their foster parents. According to a recent survey by 
the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, many potential adoptive 
parents have considered foster care adoption, but ``a majority of 
Americans hold misperceptions about the foster care adoption process 
and the children who are eligible for adoption. For example, ``two-
thirds of those considering foster care adoption are unnecessarily 
concerned that biological parents can return to claim their children 
and nearly half of all Americans mistakenly believe that foster care 
adoption is expensive, when in reality adopting from foster care is 
without substantial cost.''
  In Louisiana there are 4,541 children in foster care and 1,162 of 
them are waiting to be adopted. I would like to tell you about some of 
the foster children in Louisiana who are looking for their ``forever 
families.''
  Natalyia is a cute, outgoing and loveable 8-year-old who is bright 
and energetic. She is in the second grade and she is an above average 
student. She loves to read books, ride her bike, complete crossword 
puzzles, and play

[[Page S14573]]

with her dolls. Natalyia has been in foster care since November 2001. 
The average length of time a child spends in foster care is over 2 
years.
  Most foster children entered into State custody because their parents 
were either unable or unwilling to care for them. Not only are children 
separated from parents, but in many cases, siblings are separated when 
they are placed in foster care. Terron and Montrell are two brothers in 
the Louisiana foster care system who would like to be adopted together.
  Terron is a handsome, happy 8-year-old in the third grade who is 
placed in the same foster home with his younger brother, Montrell. Both 
boys would like to be adopted together, because they share a close 
bond. Terron responds positively to structure, love, and consistency. 
He is a caring child who has enjoyed living in a two-parent family. He 
enjoys soccer, baseball, fishing and any outdoor activity. He wants his 
new family to know that he likes to eat spaghetti, macaroni, and rice-
a-roni. Terron would benefit from a two-parent family that can provide 
structure as well as stimulation.
  Montrell is Terron's brother. He is a very sweet, friendly, and open 
young boy who responds well to structure and consistency. He is very 
bonded to his older brother and with time and nurturance can adjust to 
a new environment. Montrell is a first grader. School is a challenge 
for him but with patience and redirection, he responds well. Montrell's 
overall health is good and he is basically a happy little boy. He 
enjoys riding his bicycle and playing outside. Montrell and Terron 
would benefit from a 2-parent family that can provide structure as well 
as stimulation.

  Over half the children in foster care are 10 years of age or older 
and have more difficulty being adopted. These children are just waiting 
to flourish with the right parent's guidance. Kody and Ronnie are two 
brothers who are above the age of 10 years old and are waiting in the 
Louisiana foster care system for a ``forever family.''
  Kody is a cute, very active and outgoing, blonde haired, hazel eyed, 
13-year-old boy. He enjoys football, skateboarding, fourwheeling, and 
playing video games. He also loves horses. He is a sixth grader who 
enjoys science and reading. Kody would like to be an entertainer when 
he grows up, such as an actor, a comedian, or a rapper. He would like 
to be in the same home as his brother, Ronnie.
  Ronnie is Kody's brother. He is an 11-year-old boy who resembles his 
brother. Ronnie loves both playing and watching football. He likes to 
play video games and board games, horses, and going fishing. He is a 
fourth grader who likes math and science. He would like to be a 
policeman when he grows up, so that he could rescue people. He would 
also like to own a toy company, so that he could invent new video 
games. He wants a family who would care about him. He is very close to 
his brother Kody and wishes to remain in contact with him.
  I could stand here every day for the next month and talk about each 
child who needs to be adopted out of foster care. The bottom line is 
that each of these children, from one day old to 22 years old, needs 
permanency. They all need a loving, nurturing family that will help 
them to grow, bring out their unique personalities, and transform them 
into confident and happy adults.
  On National Adoption Day, I have faith that this can be done and we 
must continue to be the catalyst. The miracle of adoption cannot be 
explained, but the loving parents that are holding their children for 
the first time today are living examples of how dreams can be realized. 
As an adoptive mother myself, I find that words cannot adequately 
explain the miracle of adoption. I can only take a moment to offer my 
most humble thanks, gratitude, and appreciation to all those across the 
Nation who have given their Saturday to help find waiting children safe 
and loving homes.
  Let us continue to remember that when National Adoption Month and Day 
end there are still thousands of children like Natalyia, Montrell, 
Terron, Kody, and Ronnie who need that sense of permanency. I challenge 
Congress to make these children their first priority and to help them 
to finally realize that dream. Please support our resolution.
  Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to 
reconsider be laid upon the table en bloc, and that any statements 
relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 384) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 384

       Whereas there are approximately 514,000 children in the 
     foster care system in the United States, approximately 
     115,000 of whom are waiting for families to adopt them;
       Whereas 52 percent of the children in foster care are age 
     10 or younger;
       Whereas the average length of time a child spends in foster 
     care is over 2 years;
       Whereas, for many foster children, the wait for a loving 
     family in which they are nurtured, comforted, and protected 
     seems endless;
       Whereas the number of youth who ``age out'' of foster care 
     by reaching adulthood without being placed in a permanent 
     home has increased by 41 percent since 1998, and nearly 
     25,000 foster youth age out every year;
       Whereas every day loving and nurturing families are 
     strengthened and expanded when committed and dedicated 
     individuals make an important difference in the life of a 
     child through adoption;
       Whereas a recent survey conducted by the Dave Thomas 
     Foundation for Adoption demonstrated that though ``Americans 
     overwhelmingly support the concept of adoption, and in 
     particular foster care adoption . . . foster care adoptions 
     have not increased significantly over the past five years'';
       Whereas, while 3 in 10 Americans have considered adoption, 
     a majority of Americans have misperceptions about the process 
     of adopting children from foster care and the children who 
     are eligible for adoption;
       Whereas 71 percent of those who have considered adoption 
     consider adopting children from foster care above other forms 
     of adoption;
       Whereas 45 percent of Americans believe that children enter 
     the foster care system because of juvenile delinquency, when 
     in reality the vast majority of children who have entered the 
     foster care system were victims of neglect, abandonment, or 
     abuse;
       Whereas 46 percent of Americans believe that foster care 
     adoption is expensive, when in reality there is no 
     substantial cost for adopting from foster care and financial 
     support is available to adoptive parents after the adoption 
     is finalized;
       Whereas both National Adoption Day and National Adoption 
     Month occur in November;
       Whereas National Adoption Day is a collective national 
     effort to find permanent, loving families for children in the 
     foster care system;
       Whereas, since the first National Adoption Day in 2000, 
     nearly 17,000 children have joined forever families during 
     National Adoption Day;
       Whereas, in 2006, adoptions were finalized for over 3,300 
     children through more than 250 National Adoption Day events 
     in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico; 
     and
       Whereas, on October 31, 2007, the President proclaimed 
     November 2007 as National Adoption Month, and National 
     Adoption Day is on November 17, 2007: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day 
     and National Adoption Month;
       (2) recognizes that every child should have a permanent and 
     loving family; and
       (3) encourages the citizens of the United States to 
     consider adoption during the month of November and all 
     throughout the year.

                          ____________________