[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 16813]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   RECOGNIZING THE ALAMEDA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, November 4, 2011

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the Alameda 
County Social Services Agency, Department of Children and Family 
Services. Due to their exemplary work to open more good homes to foster 
children by actively recruiting and working with LGBT families, they 
have earned the All Children-All Families Seal of Recognition from the 
Human Rights Campaign Foundation, a leading organization in the 
advocacy of LGBT civil rights.
  Alameda is only the second county in the nation to receive this 
recognition. By eliminating the barriers that LGBT couples and 
individuals face when they chose to adopt or foster, Alameda County has 
helped to fulfill their mission of ensuring that every foster child 
finds a loving family. One example of how important Alameda County's 
work has been in this area is Lara and Emkay Bosque. Lara and Emkay 
have adopted two young children. Thanks to their efforts, two beautiful 
children are growing up in a permanent and loving family, instead of 
the foster care system. We need more families like the Bosques and I 
will be displaying their family photo in my office during November, 
which is National Adoption Month.
  At this time of celebration for Alameda County it is important to 
remember that they are a shining example of what counties and agencies 
across the nation can do to decrease the number of children in our 
foster care system by finding them permanent, stable homes. Currently 
our foster care system serves over 400,000 children, with over 105,000 
waiting to be adopted. LGBT families can play an important role in 
decreasing the number of children in care. Unfortunately, LGBT 
individuals and couples face discrimination in 31 states when they 
attempt to adopt or foster. Congress invests over $7 billion in our 
child welfare system annually, yet we are allowing potential adoptive 
parents and foster families to be excluded to the detriment of 
children.
  We should show our support of those children who are without families 
by passing HR 1681, the Every Child Deserves a Family Act. I introduced 
this bill to protect those families looking to foster or adopt children 
from discrimination on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender 
identity, or marital status or on the basis of the sexual orientation 
or gender identity of the child involved.
  It is the purpose of our foster care system to find children families 
who will love and cherish them. There should be no added burden for 
anyone based solely on their sexual orientation, marital status, or 
gender identity.
  I would again like to acknowledge Alameda County for their commitment 
to children in search of families and to the families willing and able 
to adopt a child in need. I hope more counties will follow their 
inspiring lead.

                          ____________________