[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22147]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING AND HONORING BIRTHPARENTS WHO CARRY OUT AN ADOPTION PLAN

  Mr. ANDREWS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee 
on Education and Labor be discharged from further consideration of H. 
Con. Res. 239 and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 239

       Whereas once a pregnant woman and the man involved in the 
     pregnancy (the birthparents) decide that they are unable to 
     parent a child, carrying out an adoption plan is highly 
     admirable;
       Whereas for the birthparents, carrying out an adoption plan 
     can be an expression of great love for the child and can be 
     what it means to be the best parent possible;
       Whereas birthparents who decide to carry out an adoption 
     plan come from all walks of life, with various backgrounds 
     and socioeconomic status;
       Whereas in 2002 (the most recent year for which such 
     statistics are available), there were 22,291 domestic infant 
     adoptions in the United States;
       Whereas birthparents should be recognized, honored, and 
     commended for making a loving decision to carry out an 
     adoption plan; and
       Whereas Congress should endeavor to do more to support 
     birthparents who carry out an adoption plan: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress recognizes and honors birthparents 
     who carry out an adoption plan.

                    Amendment Offered by Mr. Andrews

  Mr. ANDREWS. I have an amendment at the desk.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment offered by Mr. Andrews:
       Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
     following:
       ``That Congress recognizes and acknowledges the important 
     role of adoption, and commends all parties involved, 
     including birthparents who carry out an adoption plan, 
     adoptive families, and adopted children.''.

  The amendment was agreed to.
  The concurrent resolution, as amended, was agreed to.


            Amendment to the Preamble Offered by Mr. Andrews

  Mr. ANDREWS. I have an amendment to the preamble at the desk.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Amendment to the preamble offered by Mr. Andrews:
       Strike the preamble and insert the following:
       Whereas in 2002, there were 22,291 domestic infant 
     adoptions in the United States;
       Whereas birthparents who decide to carry out an adoption 
     plan come from all walks of life, with various backgrounds 
     and socioeconomic status;
       Whereas birthparents who carry out an adoption plan should 
     be recognized and commended for doing what they believe is in 
     the best interest of their child;
       Whereas loving, nurturing adoptive families make it 
     possible for birthparents to carry out an adoption plan;
       Whereas adoptive families make an important difference in 
     the life of a child through adoption and show the 
     compassionate spirit of our Nation;
       Whereas adoptive families should be recognized and 
     commended for providing a permanent, safe, and loving home 
     for a child;
       Whereas studies have shown that adopted children form deep 
     emotional bonds with their adoptive parents indistinguishable 
     from those biological children form with their parents;
       Whereas adopted children grow up to make valuable 
     contributions to our Nation and lead fulfilling lives;
       Whereas adopted children should be recognized and commended 
     for understanding that the choice of the birthparents to 
     carry out an adoption plan may be a difficult and carefully 
     considered decision made out of love for a child; and
       Whereas Congress should do more to support adoption, 
     including birthparents who carry out an adoption plan, 
     adoptive families, and adopted children: Now, therefore, be 
     it

  Mr. ANDREWS (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that the amendment be considered as read.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  The amendment to the preamble was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read: ``Concurrent resolution 
recognizing and acknowledging the important role of adoption, and 
commending all parties involved, including birthparents who carry out 
an adoption plan, adoptive families, and adopted children.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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