[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 138 (Monday, October 7, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S7271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        TRIBUTE TO ELIJAH EVANS

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, today I wish to honor an exemplary 
young man who has persevered through life's challenges and devoted 
himself to bettering the lives of children in foster care. As a young 
boy, Elijah Evans was abused by his family, forcing him to be removed 
from their care and placed into a foster care program. Quickly winning 
the love of the nurse assigned to attend to his wounds, Elijah was 
adopted by Lynore Harding when he was 4 years old. But after being 
adopted, Elijah did not forget what it was like to live in foster care, 
or about the more than 400,000 children who are in foster care today.
  In 2011, when Elijah was 13 years old, he began raising money to give 
Christmas gifts to foster children, knowing that the Christmas season 
often leaves these children with the longing feeling of not being a 
part of a family. In that year, he was able to raise $5,000 and give 
Christmas gifts to 72 children. Since then, Elijah has established his 
own organization, No Use for Abuse, and has continued Christmas of 
Hope, which is going into its third year. He hopes that he will be able 
to expand his organization in the future to offer college scholarships 
to foster children after they graduate from high school.
  As a father, I know that every life is incredibly precious. There is 
always more we can do to increase adoptions, but I'm deeply grateful 
for everything the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute and 
the Angels in Adoption do for children. Thankfully, with their help 
over 50,000 foster children were adopted into loving families last year 
and given a chance to make a positive difference like Elijah has. 
Elijah's actions are an extraordinary example of what can be achieved 
through love and respect for all mankind and a passionate desire to 
serve others.
  Elijah's noble and thoughtful efforts have not gone unnoticed. Aside 
from positively affecting the lives of so many foster children, Elijah 
will be recognized for his service by the Congressional Coalition on 
Adoption Institute at its annual Angels in Adoption awards gala on 
October 9, 2013. This award honors groups and individuals who have made 
extraordinary contributions on behalf of children still in need of 
families, and honorees include such individuals as First Lady Laura 
Bush, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, and Muhammad Ali.
  Lastly, I would like to express my appreciation to Lynore Harding for 
welcoming Elijah to be a part of her loving family and to offer my 
sincere congratulations and appreciation to Elijah for remembering the 
experience of being a foster child and for being a positive role model 
for the children who have not yet been as fortunate.

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