[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 219 (Monday, November 13, 2000)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 67605-67606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29089]


 
 
                         Presidential Documents 
 
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 219 / Monday, November 13, 2000 / 
Presidential Documents  

 ___________________________________________________________________

 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 67605]]

                Proclamation 7371 of November 7, 2000

                
National Adoption Month, 2000

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Families are the cornerstone of our Nation. Yet, today, 
                tens of thousands of America's children are living 
                within our child welfare system, without the sustained 
                love and care of permanent families. For many of these 
                children, often shuttled from one living situation to 
                another, adoption opens the door to loving parents and 
                permanent homes, where they can put down roots and 
                learn what it means to be part of a safe, stable 
                family. Adoption gives children who have been orphaned, 
                abandoned, or abused a precious second chance at 
                happiness; a chance to love and be loved and to reach 
                their full potential in a secure, supportive 
                environment.

                While foster care offers children a safe temporary 
                haven, adoption allows children to have the permanent 
                homes they deserve. That is why increasing the chances 
                of adoption for children in the foster care system has 
                been one of my Administration's chief goals. Over the 
                last 8 years, we have worked with the Congress to craft 
                legislation that makes it easier, faster, and more 
                affordable for parents to adopt children. Adoptive 
                parents--like all new parents--can now take time off to 
                care for their newly adopted children without fear of 
                losing their jobs. We have ensured health coverage for 
                adopted children with special needs, barred 
                discrimination and delays of adoptions on the basis of 
                race or ethnicity, provided tax cuts to families 
                adopting children, and offered States financial 
                incentives to move children more rapidly from foster 
                care into the permanent homes of loving families.

                We are beginning to see dramatic results from these 
                efforts. Last year alone, 46,000 foster children were 
                adopted--an increase of nearly 65 percent since 1996. 
                All 50 States, as well as the District of Columbia and 
                Puerto Rico, have succeeded in increasing the number of 
                children adopted from their child welfare systems. This 
                puts us well on the way to meeting my goal of doubling 
                the annual number of adoptions from 28,000 in 1996 to 
                56,000 in 2002.

                Despite our efforts, nearly 20,000 18-year-olds still 
                leave foster care each year without the emotional, 
                social, and financial support that adoptive families 
                provide. To help them make the challenging transition 
                to successful, independent adulthood, I signed the 
                Foster Care Independence Act last year. This 
                legislation provides young people who are growing too 
                old for the foster care system with better educational 
                opportunities and access to health care, training, 
                housing assistance, counseling, and other services.

                As we observe National Adoption Month, we should take 
                pride in our progress, but realize that there is more 
                work to be done. Let us recommit ourselves to giving 
                our Nation's most vulnerable children what every child 
                deserves and needs--a safe, stable home and a loving 
                family. And let us also give thanks for the many 
                generous and compassionate families who, through 
                adoption, have opened their hearts and homes and 
                changed a child's life forever.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States, do hereby proclaim November 2000 as National

[[Page 67606]]

                Adoption Month. I urge all Americans to observe this 
                month with appropriate programs and activities to honor 
                adoptive families and to participate in efforts to find 
                permanent, loving homes for waiting children.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord two 
                thousand, and of the Independence of the United States 
                of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

[FR Doc. 00-29089
Filed 11-09-00; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P