[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 189 (Friday, November 17, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1591]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 17, 2017

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, November 18th is National Adoption Day, 
intended to raise awareness of adoption. Since the beginning of 
National Adoption Day, over 65,000 children have been placed in a home. 
On any given day 428,000 children are in foster care in the United 
States. Currently, in Illinois, there are 2,806 foster children waiting 
to be adopted.
  Mr. Speaker, to recognize this important day, I am participating in a 
wonderful project that highlights the importance of finding adoptive 
families for foster children waiting a permanent home. For the month of 
November, I will be honoring the Olsson family from Evergreen Park, 
Illinois, which is in my district. Scott and Heather Olsson adopted a 
12-year-old boy named Nathan. On his 11th birthday, Nathan received the 
best gift when the Olsson's decided to open their heart and their home 
as foster parents. Nathan remembers the laughter and warmth of the 
first night he spent with his adoptive family. They were all having a 
great time as his father Scott, told ``corny Dad jokes.'' Then his 
parents set a birthday cake on the table that read ``Welcome Home.'' 
Nathan remembers that moment as he thought, ``Home! I feel home for 
real.''
  Since then the Olsson family has created wonderful memories, and I 
know they have many more to create. Many more birthdays, holidays, and 
special occasions.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Heather and Scott Olsson for 
breaking the cycle for a young boy. Because of you, he no longer goes 
from foster home to foster home and instead, has a stable home. Because 
of you, there is one less child in the system.
  At the age of 12, Nathan understands the simplicity and efficiency of 
adopting an infant, but he urges those considering adoption to consider 
an older child who may have made poor choices because of instability. 
And Mr. Speaker, in the words of Heather Olsson, it's always scary to 
add a new family member, whether adopted or biological, but don't allow 
that fear to hold you back. Adoption is a rewarding experience.