[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 142 (Wednesday, November 19, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S6112]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on Saturday, many children and families 
around the country will celebrate National Adoption Day. It's a day 
that many adoptions are finalized and youth find their forever 
families.
  It's very comforting and fitting that this day helps kick off the 
holiday season. Families will be formed and strengthened. This 
Thanksgiving, many children will celebrate with their new families and 
not have to worry about their next placement or their next meal. And 
this month, we give thanks to the men and women who make their dreams 
come true.
  Since the first National Adoption Day in 2000, nearly 50,000 children 
have joined ``forever families'' during National Adoption Day. In 2013 
alone, adoptions for 4,500 children were finalized through 400 National 
Adoption Day events across the country.
  These are impressive numbers--numbers that make us proud of the work 
being done to help children in foster care find loving families. But 
there is always more work to be done.
  Today, there are over 102,000 children in the foster care system. 
Iowa alone has over 6,200 children in foster care, many of whom are 
waiting for a loving family to adopt them.
  There are so many issues facing foster youth--in addition to being 
torn apart from their families. They face serious trauma. They are 
likely to be treated differently and don't get to do the same 
activities as other kids. They transition from home to home and school 
to school. They don't know normalcy, and they may never know 
permanency. And, after years of challenges, some are forced to 
transition to adulthood on their own. Unfortunately, each year over 
23,000 youth age out of care in the U.S.
  Too many older children in foster care, especially those with special 
needs, are often the ones who wait the longest to leave foster care. 
Foster youth simply desire to have what so many of us were blessed to 
have--a home with caring, loving parents and siblings. These kids are 
less likely than younger children to find ``forever homes.''
  That is why I helped form the Senate Caucus on Foster Youth. I wanted 
to draw attention to the challenges that older foster youth face. The 
caucus has allowed congressional leaders to become more aware of the 
issues faced by young people and families who are involved in the 
foster care system.
  The caucus cannot function without the input and insight from foster 
youth. These children are the experts on the foster care system. They 
tell us what works or what needs to change. They share their 
experiences and provide us with real world stories about how our 
policies truly affect them.
  The caucus and the youth who share their experiences remind us that 
no child is unadoptable. No child should be without a mom and dad, and 
we must remember that foster care should be a layover, not a 
destination.
  November is National Adoption Month, a time to raise national 
awareness of adoption and celebrate families, advocates, and volunteers 
involved in adoption. It's also a time to devote more attention to 
policies and practices that protect the safety and well-being for all 
children.
  I am hopeful that Congress will continue to look for ways to improve 
the foster care system and promote adoptions. I am glad Congress worked 
to enact a bill this year to renew the adoption incentives program and 
to do more to screen and help foster youth who may be trafficked. We 
must continually examine how the system is treating youth and whether 
the policies in place are strengthening families.
  There are many youth who will celebrate this holiday season without a 
permanent family. Hopefully, our celebration of National Adoption Month 
will raise awareness of the issues they face and the need to find them 
a mom and a dad. We need to keep working together to break down the 
barriers to adoption.
  So today, I thank all those who have adopted or who have fostered 
children who needed it, and I thank the many individuals and 
organizations that work to make permanency possible for children. I 
know many dreams will come true this Saturday, and I wish the very best 
to the youth as they begin their journey with their new families.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Minnesota.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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