[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 171 (Wednesday, October 18, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5084]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    TRIBUTE TO ROGER AND BOBBI LOVEN

 Mr. CRAMER. Madam President, October is the month the 
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute--CCAI--recognizes 
individuals across the Nation who make a difference in the lives of 
young people in need of foster care and forever homes. My wife Kris and 
I are adoptive parents ourselves and share a commitment to adoption and 
foster care and applaud the work of the CCAI.
  This year, I nominated Roger and Bobbi Loven of Bismarck as among 
those honored this year as CCAI Angels in Adoption. I consider it a 
privilege to annually recognize the work of individuals and families in 
North Dakota who devote years toward loving children in the foster care 
system. Roger and Bobbi Loven began foster care when he was doing his 
anesthesiology residency in Omaha, NE, in the early 1980s. They took 
babies for up to 3 weeks before they were permanently placed with an 
adoptive family.
  When they moved to Bismarck in 1984, they had already cared for 17 
babies. In 1991, while raising three sons of their own, they became 
licensed foster care providers in North Dakota. Because Roger is a 
medical doctor, they were often contacted about babies coming out of 
NICU, including those born with drug addictions and recovering from 
withdrawal. They also took babies with physical injuries, including a 
3-month-old with a skull fracture and broken bones in every extremity. 
Another 2-month-old had been sexually assaulted by the father. They 
adopted one foster daughter when she was 4 years old, and following 
high school graduation this year, she is attending college. In the 40 
years since taking their first, they estimate they have cared for at 
least 85 children.
  The Lovens enjoy contact with many families whose children they have 
fostered. And they mentor countless other adults new to foster care. A 
common concern is about getting so attached to the children it is hard 
to let them go. ``There are many hard days with foster children, but 
the rewards are there too,'' says Roger. ``Being able to see them 
thrive and learn to attach to others is worth it.'' They also are 
active in a group at their church where caregivers listen to and 
support each other in whatever challenges they are facing. ``It's so 
important to remain positive,'' Bobbi says.
  Roger retired in 2019 after 35 years as an anesthesiologist at 
Bismarck's St. Alexius Hospital. Although they talk about pulling back 
in the number of children they will take in the future, they continue 
to counsel others providing foster care and are in constant contact 
with NICU nurses who are well acquainted with this couple and their 
loving hearts.
  I join all North Dakotans and the entire Congressional Coalition on 
Adoption Institute in congratulating and honoring Roger and Bobbi 
Loven. We thank you for your years of dedication and the work you 
continue to do fostering children in your home and inspiring others to 
also become involved. You are exceptionally deserving of recognition as 
Angels in Adoption.

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