[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 219 (Thursday, November 13, 2003)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 64483-64484]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-28583]



[[Page 64481]]

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Part III





The President





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Proclamation 7731--National Adoption Month, 2003



Proclamation 7732--World Freedom Day, 2003
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  Federal Register / Vol. 68, No. 219 / Thursday, November 13, 2003 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 64483]]

                Proclamation 7731 of November 7, 2003

                
National Adoption Month, 2003

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Every year, tens of thousands of American families 
                answer the call to adopt a child. During National 
                Adoption Month, we recognize America's adoptive and 
                foster families. We also commit to helping all of our 
                children, including those waiting in foster care, find 
                safe, permanent, and loving homes.

                On November 22, communities across the country will 
                come together to celebrate National Adoption Day by 
                finalizing the adoptions of over 3,000 children from 
                foster care. On this day and all this month, we honor 
                families that have opened their hearts and homes to a 
                child.

                The number of children who are adopted has increased in 
                recent years. Still, thousands of children in our 
                country--many with special needs--continue to wait in 
                foster care for an adoptive family.

                We are taking important steps to make adoption more 
                commonplace and to protect the well-being of our 
                children. We have eased the financial burden of 
                adoption by nearly doubling the maximum adoption tax 
                credit. We expanded the Promoting Safe and Stable 
                Families Program, which encourages adoption at the 
                local level and supports adoptive families with 
                services that ease a child's transition into a new 
                family and help to strengthen the family. The 
                Department of Health and Human Services provides 
                incentives to States that increase the number of 
                children adopted from State-supervised foster care.

                Last year, my Administration launched the first Federal 
                adoption website, www.AdoptUSKids.org, which features 
                pictures and profiles of children available for 
                adoption. This site helps loving families connect with 
                waiting children across the country. Already, more than 
                1,700 children featured on the site have been placed 
                with adoptive families. This progress is testimony to 
                the selfless spirit of American families.

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, 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 2003 as National 
                Adoption Month. I call on all Americans to observe this 
                month with appropriate programs and activities to honor 
                adoptive families and to participate in efforts to find 
                permanent 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 three, and of the

[[Page 64484]]

                Independence of the United States of America the two 
                hundred and twenty-eighth.

                    (Presidential Sig.)B

[FR Doc. 03-28583
Filed 11-12-03; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P