[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22803]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                      HONORING CHAIRMAN TOM BLILEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JIM DeMINT

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 12, 2000

  Mr. DeMINT. Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to 
honor my colleague, Chairman Bliley, for his faithful service in the 
U.S. House of Representatives. As his many years as a dedicated public 
servant in the House come to a close, I am sure he is looking back at 
the many accomplishments of his time here. I would like to highlight 
his activity in one specific area--adoption.
  Chairman Bliley, as the adoptive father of two and co-chairman of the 
Congressional Coalition on Adoption, has championed adoption issues in 
Congress. Most recently he has worked to make sure pregnancy counselors 
are trained to provide complete and accurate information on adoption to 
women with unplanned pregnancies. He has also worked to increase the 
adoption tax credit to $10,000 in relief for families dealing with the 
high cost of adopting children.
  Adoption is a wonderful thing because it brings a positive, life-
giving end to what could be difficult circumstances. The mother can 
place her child in a loving family, the child receives a warm and 
welcoming home, and an adoptive couple gets to wear one of the greatest 
titles in America--parent.
  I applaud the chairman for his tireless efforts to help the 
birthparents, adopted children, and adoptive parents around this 
country. There are many children who have been blessed with parents and 
a loving home because of the work of Chairman Bliley. I thank and 
salute him for all of his work and wish him well in retirement.

                          ____________________