[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 177 (Friday, November 18, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     HONORING NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY

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                            HON. TOM MARINO

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 18, 2011

  Mr. MARINO. Mr. Speaker, as a parent of two wonderful adopted 
children and a co-chairman of the newly established bi-partisan 
Congressional Caucus on Foster Care, I rise today in recognition of the 
12th Annual National Adoption Day which is tomorrow November 19.
   As we look forward to celebrating Thanksgiving, it is important to 
keep in mind there are over 400,000 children in foster care across the 
nation who will not be spending the holiday with a permanent family. Of 
these children, nearly 107,000 of them are eligible for adoption and 
waiting for a family.
   In my home State of Pennsylvania, over 19,000 children are in 
Pennsylvania's foster care system. About 3,300 of these children await 
adoption.
   Each year about 28,000 youth age out of foster care having never 
been adopted.
   I want to issue a challenge those us here in Washington and around 
the country to make it easier for families to adopt children.
   Our goal must be a loving, caring and safe permanent home for each 
of these children. For this to happen, courts, judges, attorneys, 
adoption professionals, child welfare agencies, religious and civic 
organizations needs to work together to finalize adoptions and find 
homes for children in foster care.
   National adoption Day is an essential part of this effort.
   For the past 12 years, National Adoption Day has been a nationwide 
attempt to raise awareness of the children in foster care waiting to 
find permanent homes and loving families. It is commemorated across the 
country with numerous events held each year to finalize the adoptions 
of children in foster care, and to celebrate all families who adopt.
   The result is that since 2000, more than 35,000 children have been 
adopted from foster care on National Adoption Day. This year nearly 
5,000 adoptions will be finalized in through these special events.
   That is why I am gratified to be speaking in recognition National 
Adoption Day. I also want to thank foster and adoptive families across 
the country because of the important role that they play in the well-
being of our children.

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