[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Pages 14131-14132]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             CONGRESSIONAL COALITION ON ADOPTION INSTITUTE

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Madam President, today I rise to commemorate the 10th 
anniversary of a very special organization that is near and dear to my 
heart, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, or CCAI as it 
is more commonly known. This institute was formally established in 
2001, but sprang from the bicameral, bipartisan congressional caucus 
known as the Congressional Coalition on Adoption that began in 1985. 
CCAI is a nonprofit organization that works to raise awareness about 
the needs of children without families and to remove policy barriers 
that hinder children from experiencing the love and support a family 
provides.
  In 1998, the congressional leaders of the Congressional Coalition on 
Adoption Caucus decided it was time that the coalition organize more 
formally and hire staff to carry out this important work. It was at 
this point that we hired our first staff member, Kerry Hasenbalg, who 
was later to become the first executive director of CCAI.
  Kerry came to the coalition with extensive knowledge of orphan care 
and adoption policy having worked in the field for many years. Kerry 
worked both internationally and domestically on orphan care and 
adoption issues, and was often sent to Washington, DC, as a liaison to 
meet with other professionals, leaders and both U.S. and international 
government officials on international adoption issues. She also 
traveled extensively abroad to meet with foreign officials and in-
country workers, and most importantly she spent time in many orphanages 
getting to know the children themselves. But even more than her 
professional experience, Kerry came to the Coalition with a heart and 
passion for changing the lives of orphans and foster youth, one child 
at a time.
  The Congressional Coalition leaders designated members of their 
personal staffs to work with Kerry to develop and advance the goals and 
vision of the coalition. These appointed congressional staff consisted 
of: Kathleen Strottman from my staff, Brooke Roberts from Senator Larry 
Craig's office, Bill Dolbow from Congressman Tom Bliley's office and 
Chip Gardiner from Congressman Jim Oberstar's office. Through the 
dedicated leadership of the Coalition's Congressional leadership, and 
the hard work of Kerry and the designated congressional staff, it soon 
became evident that the coalition could be more effective and have a 
greater impact if an institute was created to enhance and expand the 
work of the adoption caucus. After much research and investigation, it 
was determined that the nonprofit Congressional Coalition on Adoption 
Institute should be formed.
  In May 2001, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute was 
born and Kerry Hasenbalg was designated as the first executive director 
where she served for 3\1/2\ years. Under her leadership, many of the 
flagship programs still in existence today were developed and 
implemented. In addition to the congressional leadership, CCAI's 
founding Board members included: Maxine B. Baker, President and CEO of 
the Freddie Mac Foundation and Barbara W. Walzer, a philanthropist and 
longtime, dear friend of Kerry's.
  Although Kerry left her position as executive director when she and 
her husband Scott had the first of their three beautiful children, 
Cole, Maya and Leah, Kerry continues to advocate for children in need 
of loving homes as a sought after keynote speaker, writer and 
consultant on orphan care and adoption topics. She is also an advisory 
board member for CCAI.
  CCAI's initial and continued mandate includes service to the 
congressional

[[Page 14132]]

members of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Caucus through the 
following programs:
  The Congressional Resource Program: CCAI presents and informs 
congressional offices regarding current domestic and international 
orphan care and adoption issues by hosting briefings, meetings and 
other events to best support congressional members as they serve their 
constituents.
  Congressional delegations: CCAI plans and arranges travel to 
strategic countries to further discussions on adoption, orphan care and 
vulnerable children. The first of many delegation trips organized and 
hosted by CCAI began with a trip to China where the congressional 
delegation met with President Jiang Zemin for nearly 2 hours. At the 
time, more Americans were adopting from China than any other country. 
This meeting was critical to further establish ties between our 
countries regarding adoption and orphan care. Additional trips during 
the early years of CCAI included congressional delegations to: Romania, 
Russia, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Uganda, and India. More 
recent delegations have visited Haiti, Guatemala and Ethiopia and have 
begun to include domestic delegations on child welfare as well.
  Foster Youth Internship Program: This unique and very valuable 
program provides internship positions in both Houses of Congress to 
college students who have emancipated or spent time in the U.S. foster 
care system. This program gives a voice to the near half a million 
children in the U.S. foster care system and gives Congress a first-hand 
perspective on what it means to grow up in the system. In the past 
several years these foster youth interns have researched and compiled 
recommendations for Congress on policy and legislative changes that 
could be made that would improve the foster care system. Some of their 
recommendations have already been made into law.
  National Adoption Day: CCAI is part of a collective national effort 
to raise awareness of the over 107,000 children in foster care waiting 
to find permanent homes and loving families through adoption. National 
Adoption Day has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by 
working with courts, judges, attorneys, adoption professionals, child 
welfare agencies and advocates to finalize thousands of adoptions for 
children out of foster care.
  Angels in AdoptionTM: This very special annual event gives 
congressional members an opportunity to highlight the unsung heroes in 
their states or districts who tirelessly serve and advocate for 
children in the U.S. and around the world in need of permanent and 
loving homes. Without these advocates, many more children would be 
alone without families to love and support them. In the years since the 
Angels in Adoption awards program has been in place, more than 1800 
individuals, couples and organizations from around the nation have been 
honored by their Members of Congress.
  Now, 10 years later, the same mission and vision of the founders of 
CCAI remains, due in large part to the leadership of its current 
executive director, my former legislative director and my dear friend, 
Kathleen Strottman. At the helm, Kathleen not only maintains the 
original mission, integrity and continuity of CCAI, but continues to 
pour her heart and soul into furthering the cause of the orphan. 
Kathleen has been there from the founding of CCAI as one of the 
original congressional staff and worked side by side with Kerry as the 
vision and mission of CCAI grew and developed into what it is today.
  Kathleen comes to her position as executive director with not only 
the historical experience of CCAI but with Capitol Hill experience as 
well. Kathleen served for nearly 8 years as my trusted adviser and in 
that role she worked to pass legislation such as the No Child Left 
Behind Act, the Medicare Modernization Act, the Inter-Country Adoption 
Act, the Child Citizenship Act of 2000, the Adoption Tax Credit and the 
Family Court Act. Kathleen has worked to increase the opportunity for 
positive dialogue andthe exchange of best practices between the United 
States and countries such as Ethiopia, China, Romania, Russia, 
Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador and India. Prior to joining my staff, 
Kathleen attended Whittier Law School's Center for Children's Rights 
where she graduated with honors and received a State certified 
specialty in juvenile advocacy. She and her very supportive husband, 
Matt, are the proud parents of three children, Grace, Noah and Liam.
  I am proud to stand here today and honor CCAI on its 10th anniversary 
along with Kerry Hasenbalg and Kathleen Strottman without whom this 
institute would not be where it is today and whose personal dedication 
and sacrifice have changed the lives of children around the world. CCAI 
has not only stayed true to its original founding principles and 
mission, but under the dedicated leadership of its congressional 
members, board and executive directors, CCAI has grown and expanded to 
further enhance the important work of making a difference in the lives 
of children both here in the United States and around the world. May 
God continue to bless the work of CCAI.

                          ____________________