    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book II)]
    [December 14, 1996]
    [Pages 2208-2209]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's Radio Address
    December 14, 1996

        Good morning. Today we're taking important new steps to make
    adoption easier and to move children out of foster care faster. These
    efforts will help to give even more children what every child needs and
    deserves, loving parents and a strong and stable home.
        I'm delighted to be joined in the Oval Office today by a remarkable
    group of children and parents who know firsthand the tremendous
    possibilities of adoption and by the First Lady, who has worked so long
    and hard on this issue and whose efforts have made today possible.
        I'm especially pleased to be able to take this action now, in this
    season of hope and light. The holidays we celebrate this month teach us
    that through faith and love we can truly repair the world. I can think
    of no better way to fulfill the promise of this season than to bring a
    child into a family and a family to a child.
        There are more than 450,000 children in the Nation's foster care
    system. They are placed there because of abuse, neglect, or a home life
    that is neither safe nor secure. While most of these children eventually
    return to their original homes, nearly 100,000 of them simply don't have
    that option. Those children wait far too long, typically 3 years or
    more, to find permanent homes and families to love them.
        Promoting adoption has been at the heart of our administration's
    efforts to protect our children and strengthen our families. Earlier
    this year I was proud to sign a $5,000 tax credit to help families adopt
    children. We put an end to racial preferences for adoption. No longer
    can laws keep children of one race from nurturing arms of adoptive
    parents of another. This is a good start, but we must do more.
        That is why I have just signed a Presidential directive with a clear
    goal: We will double the number of children we move from foster care to
    permanent homes, from 27,000 a year today to 54,000 a year by the year
    2002. With this effort we're saying no child should be trapped in the
    limbo of foster care, no child should be uncertain about what the words
    ``family'' or ``parents'' or ``home'' mean, particularly when there are
    open arms waiting to welcome these children into safe and strong
    households where they can build good, caring lives.
        As part of this initiative, I'm directing the Secretary of Health
    and Human Services, Donna Shalala, who is also with us today, to launch
    an extensive effort to determine what steps we must take to meet our
    goal. I want the Secretary to report back to me with her recommendations
    in 60 days. This report must tell us how we can help States set and meet
    urgent new adoption targets. It must describe how we can improve
    coordination among local, State, and Federal authorities so that every
    community has access to the best ways to encourage adoption. And it must
    outline what sensible financial incentives we can provide States to
    raise adoption rates.
        I also want the Secretary to determine what additional changes we
    can make in Federal laws and regulations to ensure that children won't
    get trapped in foster care. And I want to know if there are any new
    provisions we can put in place to move children through the system
    faster and to protect them when they leave.
        There are other steps we are taking immediately. I'm instructing the
    Departments of Treasury, Labor, Commerce, and Health and

    [[Page 2209]]

    Human Services to launch an all-out effort to heighten public awareness
    about adoption and to recognize those in the private sector who are
    committing themselves to this important cause.
        Let me also say how grateful I am to those in Congress of both
    parties who are working so hard to make adoption a reality for America's
    most vulnerable children. I want to thank especially Senators
    Rockefeller and DeWine and Representatives Kennelly and Camp for their
    efforts.
        The fact that we are commemorating the birth of a child that began
    life in a manger and became the Prince of Peace should remind us that
    the promise of God has been placed in every child. We must work
    tirelessly to make sure that every boy and girl of America who is up for
    adoption has a family waiting out to reach him or her. No child should
    be in foster care for one day longer than he or she needs to be.
        This is a season of miracles, and perhaps there is no greater
    miracle than finding a loving home for a child who needs one.
        Thanks for listening.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:06 a.m. from the Oval Office at the
    White House. Following the address, the First Lady led a discussion with
    foster care families which was included in this release.