[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8937]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              MOTHER'S DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 1999

  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, this weekend, on May 9, America will 
celebrate Mother's Day. This second Sunday in May was set aside for us 
to thank our mothers for raising us, for giving us a sense of security 
and independence, and for offering us their unconditional love. I would 
like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to all mothers, who know 
that there is perhaps no more important, more difficult, and ultimately 
more rewarding undertaking than raising a child.
  I was very fortunate to have been raised by a loving mother in a 
stable and caring home. As we approach Mother's Day, however, I can't 
help but be reminded of the over 500,000 children in the foster care 
system in this country who await permanent homes. Although in recent 
years we have made great strides in improving the child welfare system, 
through legislation such as the Adoption and Safe Families Act, there 
is no substitute for loving parents and a permanent home. For thousands 
of children who are still waiting, adoption offers the hope to finally 
find a ``forever family''. I would like to remember the children who 
still wait to celebrate Mother's Day in a permanent home, as well as 
those families whom adoption has brought together.
  Mr. Speaker, children are awaiting adoptive parents not only in this 
country, but in nations all over the world. For years, American 
families have reached across cultural and national boundaries to 
embrace children through international adoption. My own family was 
forever changed and enriched by the adoption of our two children from 
Korea. It is difficult for me to express how deeply grateful I am to 
have Kathryn and Scott in my life. This Mother's Day, it is my greatest 
hope that every family and every child still waiting will also have the 
opportunity to experience the joy of adoption.

                          ____________________