[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 17703-17704]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, with November being National Adoption 
Month and this Saturday being National Adoption Day, I would like to 
take a moment to highlight the issue of adoption--an issue that is near 
and dear to my heart. Earlier this month Senator Landrieu and I 
introduced our annual National Adoption Day and Month Resolution which 
was agreed to on November 13 by unanimous consent.
  The importance of family in the growth and development of a child can 
never be overstated. There are millions of children worldwide who are 
growing up without the love and support of a family. It is my hope that 
through National Adoption Day and our work on the Congressional 
Coalition on Adoption, we can one day make the dream of every child 
having a permanent and loving family a reality.
  Like Senator Landrieu, I have seen first-hand the many blessings that 
come from the adoption of a child. My daughter Molly adopted my 
granddaughter, Zegita Marie, from an orphanage in Ethiopia. Z-girl, as 
I like to call her, is such a smart and confident young girl and I know 
it is because of the support and love of her family she is able to 
thrive. More so, Z-girl has been a huge blessing to our family and one 
that I am forever grateful for.
  National Adoption Month is about recognizing those who have made the 
sacrifices to make a child's life better, and encouraging those who are 
thinking about adopting to take that step and make a real difference in 
a child's life. In that spirit, I want to take a moment to recognize a 
young woman that has taken the step to be a difference in a child's 
life. As many of my colleagues know, each October the Congressional 
Coalition on Adoption Institute hosts its annual Angels in Adoption 
Gala here in Washington. Every year Senators and Representatives 
nominate an individual or a family who has made a significant 
difference in the area of adoption and foster care, and I have had the 
honor of nominating individuals from my home State of Oklahoma. 
Unfortunately, circumstances did not allow my nominee, Kate Arnold of 
Oklahoma City, to come to the event, so I would like to take a moment 
to recognize her and share her wonderful story.
  In 2003, Kate Arnold was volunteering at a San Francisco Bay Area 
home for teenage mothers when she met Miriam, a mother to 2 boys. Over 
the course of years Kate developed a relationship with Miriam, her 
boys, and a daughter born during that time. Kate became a constant 
presence in their lives, frequently taking the children out for the day 
or overnight, while Miriam struggled to care for them.

[[Page 17704]]

  In March of 2011, Child Protective Services removed Miriam's children 
from her care and over the next several months Miriam continued her 
struggle with addiction. In October of that year, a social worker asked 
her to name who her children should go to if she lost them permanently. 
Miriam named Kate.
  At the time Kate was here in D.C. attending Georgetown University 
School of Medicine. However, she did not let that stop her and 
immediately petitioned Georgetown for the ability to complete her 
fourth year of medical school in California so that she could become 
the children's foster parent and begin adoption proceedings.
  In July 2012, Kate returned to California and by August the children 
were living with her. This year she graduated from Georgetown and the 
family moved to Oklahoma City so Kate could begin her residency at the 
University of Oklahoma.
  Kate reflects the spirit of National Adoption Month and Day, not only 
in her decision to foster and adopt Miriam's children but also through 
years of prior work and commitment to the foster care community. Kate 
is a great example of what one person can do to become a blessing to 
the millions of children throughout the world that are in need of a 
family. I hope that others will join Senator Landrieu and myself this 
month of November and recognize the great need that exists for families 
to open their arms to children, both here in the United States and 
abroad, and take the leap of faith that will change a child's life.

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