[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 187 (Thursday, November 21, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6759-S6760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENATE RESOLUTION 438--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE GOALS OF NATIONAL 
    ADOPTION MONTH AND NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY BY PROMOTING NATIONAL 
     AWARENESS OF ADOPTION AND THE CHILDREN WAITING FOR ADOPTION, 
CELEBRATING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INVOLVED IN ADOPTION, AND ENCOURAGING 
THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO SECURE SAFETY, PERMANENCY, AND WELL-
                         BEING FOR ALL CHILDREN

  Mr. BLUNT (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Grassley, 
Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Cramer, Mrs. 
Blackburn, Mr. Daines, Ms. Collins, Mr. Alexander, Mr. Braun, Mr. 
Roberts, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Booker, Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, Ms. Duckworth, 
Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Jones, Mr. King, Mr. Manchin, Mr. 
Markey, Mr. Peters, Ms. Rosen, Ms.

[[Page S6760]]

Smith, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, Mr. Wyden, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Scott 
of South Carolina, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Rounds, and Mr. Inhofe) submitted 
the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 438

       Whereas there are far too many unparented children in the 
     United States;
       Whereas the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting 
     System Report on fiscal year 2018 foster care and adoption 
     population characteristics (referred to in this preamble as 
     the ``AFCARS report'') indicates that there are approximately 
     437,300 children in the foster care system in the United 
     States, approximately 125,400 of whom are waiting for 
     adoption;
       Whereas the AFCARS report indicates that--
       (1) 65 percent of the children in foster care in the United 
     States are 10 years of age or younger;
       (2) the average length of time a child spends in foster 
     care is approximately 20 months;
       (3) in fiscal year 2018, approximately 17,800 youth ``aged 
     out'' of foster care by reaching adulthood without being 
     placed in a permanent home; and
       (4) in fiscal year 2018, the number of children who--
          (A) achieved permanency through adoption increased for 
     the fourth year in a row; and
          (B) entered foster care decreased for the second year in 
     a row;
       Whereas, still, for many foster children, the wait for a 
     loving family in which they are nurtured, comforted, and 
     protected seems endless;
       Whereas a survey conducted in 2017 (referred to in this 
     preamble as the ``2017 survey'') showed that a quarter of 
     respondents who had not adopted had considered adoption;
       Whereas the 2017 survey showed that 46 percent of 
     respondents either somewhat or strongly agreed that children 
     enter the foster care system because of juvenile delinquency, 
     despite the AFCARS report revealing that neglect was 
     associated with 62 percent of cases involving the removal of 
     a child, or approximately 163,500 cases;
       Whereas the 2017 survey showed that--
       (1) 39 percent of respondents believed foster care adoption 
     is expensive; and
       (2) a majority of respondents considering foster care 
     adoption indicated that receiving financial and emotional 
     support would make a difference in their decision to pursue 
     adoption;
       Whereas the Children's Bureau, an office of the 
     Administration for Children and Families within the 
     Department of Health and Human Services, supports programs, 
     research, and monitoring to help eliminate barriers to 
     adoption and find permanent families for children;
       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 the President traditionally issues an annual 
     proclamation to declare the month of November as National 
     Adoption Month;
       Whereas National Adoption Day has been celebrated as a 
     collective national effort to find permanent and loving 
     families for children in the foster care system; and
       Whereas the Saturday before Thanksgiving has been 
     recognized as National Adoption Day since at least 2000, and, 
     in 2019, the Saturday before Thanksgiving is November 23: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Adoption 
     Month and National Adoption Day;
       (2) recognizes that every child should have a permanent and 
     loving family; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to consider 
     adoption during the month of November and throughout the 
     year.

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