[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Page 23381]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER KIN RAISING RELATIVES' CHILDREN

 Mr. SALAZAR. Mr. President, I rise today to discuss an issue 
of great importance that receives far too little attention. Across the 
country, more than 6 million children live in households headed by 
either a grandparent or another relative. About 2.5 million of these 
children live in homes without either parent present. Regardless of the 
myriad reasons children enter relative care whether it is the death of 
a parent, neglect, or substance abuse it is never the fault of the 
child. I commend grandparents and other relatives who step forward to 
care for these children, keeping them out of foster care while 
providing safe, stable homes, often at great personal and financial 
sacrifice.
  Jackie Hope of Denver, CO, is one such grandmother. She became a 
second-time mother at the age of 53 when she quit her job to be a full-
time parent to her newborn grandson. Jackie's daughter became addicted 
to crack cocaine and left Jackie to care for her four children.
  Times got even harder for Jackie when her husband of 38 years died 
and his retirement benefits ceased. Jackie was left to care for her 
four grandchildren's growing needs with even less money.
  Today, Jackie is well known in the Denver community as a strong 
advocate for grandparents and other kin raising relatives' children. 
She was a leader in advocating for more financial and emotional support 
for the thousands of other people who find themselves in the same 
situation. Although it has been physically, emotionally, and 
financially taxing, Jackie never complains--she simply continues to 
work hard to provide a better life for herself and her grandchildren.
  Grandparents and other relative caregivers such as Jackie often 
provide the children in their care the best chance for a loving and 
stable childhood. Unfortunately, their hard work and dedication often 
goes unnoticed. Today I offer my formal acknowledgement and deepest 
appreciation for the ongoing service of these caregivers to our country 
and to our Nation's most valuable asset, our children.

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