[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
[November 13, 1997]
[Page 1556]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Statement on Congressional Action on Adoption Legislation
November 13, 1997

    I am pleased that the Senate and the House of Representatives have 
passed historic, bipartisan legislation to promote adoption and improve 
our Nation's child welfare system, giving our Nation's most vulnerable 
children what every child deserves--a safe and permanent home. I very 
much look forward to signing the Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997 
into law.
    This legislation makes clear that children's health and safety are 
the paramount concerns of the public child welfare system. I am 
particularly pleased that the bill incorporates my administration's 
recommendations to provide States with financial incentives to increase 
the number of children who are adopted and to make other changes in 
Federal law that will make adoption easier and move children more 
rapidly out of foster care and into permanent homes. The legislation 
also strengthens support to States for services that help families stay 
together when that is possible and promote adoption when it is not. Most 
important, this legislation will help us meet the goal of doubling, by 
the year 2002, the number of children who are adopted or permanently 
placed each year.
    I want to thank the many Members of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives who worked so hard on this bipartisan achievement, but I 
particularly want to thank the Congressional leadership and the sponsors 
of this legislation, Senators Chafee and Rockefeller and Representatives 
Camp and Kennelly, for their commitment. And I would like to add a 
special work of thanks to the First Lady for her tenacity and dedication 
to this important issue.
    I can think of no better way to celebrate National Adoption Month 
than to sign this legislation into law.