[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 16207]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1115
                         NATIONAL ADOPTION DAY

  (Mr. FITZPATRICK asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. FITZPATRICK. Mr. Speaker, this Saturday, November 22, we 
recognize National Adoption Day, which is a time to celebrate over 
4,500 adoptions out of foster care in the United States in the last 
year.
  While that statistic represents positive news for a number of 
children and families, estimates show that there are still nearly 150 
million orphans worldwide, many living in institutions, shelters, or 
out on the streets. Additionally, reports indicate that international 
adoptions in the United States have plummeted by over 62 percent in the 
past 9 years as a result of our Nation's broken adoption system.
  As a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I have 
committed myself to working towards sustainable, pro-family policies 
that help facilitate the process of giving a home to every child.
  One of those policies is the Children and Families First Act, H.R. 
3323. This legislation aims to remove burdensome regulations that slow 
the adoption process and bolster our international diplomacy centered 
on child welfare and adoption.
  While Congress may be entering the so-called lameduck period, it is 
my hope that leaders in both Chambers will bring this important bill to 
the floor so we can begin the process of aligning our Nation's policies 
with the fundamental truth that every child deserves to grow up in a 
loving family.

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