[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13586]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO SCOTT AND JAMIE NAGY

 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I wish to recognize Scott and Jamie 
Nagy of Brookings, SD, as my nominees for the 2014 Angels in Adoption 
Award. Since 1999, the Angels in Adoption program, through the 
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institution, has honored more than 
2,000 individuals, couples, and organizations nationwide for their work 
in providing children with loving, stable homes.
  In 2006, after being married 14 years, Scott and Jamie, along with 
their four children Nick, Tyler, TJ, and Natalie, adopted their 
daughter Naika from Haiti when she was 2\1/2\ years old. Jamie, who was 
adopted as an infant, found the process helped her better understand 
her own adoption story. Through their journey with Naika, the Nagys 
decided to help others understand adoption and the needs of children 
around the world. In 2009, Scott was one of the first coaches in the 
country to coach barefoot at a basketball game to help raise awareness 
for Samaritan's Feet, an organization that provides shoes to orphans 
and impoverished children in developing countries. Scott cites his 
interest in helping Naika's home country as a source of inspiration for 
participation in the program.
  Scott and Jamie's story demonstrates how parents and families can 
foster patience, grace, and understanding as they grow their families 
and open their hearts and homes. Their desire to help others understand 
the effect of overwhelming change on both the child and the family and 
learn how to overcome those challenges speaks to their strength of 
character. I commend their efforts to assist other families navigate 
the adoption process and raise awareness of the needs of children 
around the world. It brings me great pride to honor South Dakotans 
Scott and Jamie Nagy, my nominees for the 2014 Angels in Adoption 
Award.

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