[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
[July 23, 2002]
[Pages 1283-1285]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Remarks on the Adoption Public Service Announcement Campaign
July 23, 2002

    The President. Thank you, Laura. Laura loves 
children a lot, and I'm really proud to call her wife. And she's doing a 
fine job as our First Lady, and I'm proud of the job she's doing.
    Here's what I love about adoption: It reveals the good heart of 
America. That's what adoption does. Extending the welcome of family to a 
vulnerable child is a great commitment, but it's an extraordinary act of 
love. Adoptive families and foster families deserve our Nation's thanks 
and our Nation's recognition. So, thanks.
    Every year, American families adopt tens of thousands of children. 
Many of these children come from America's foster care system. Yet, 
there are many more in that system whose deepest desire is to become a 
member of a family. Today I'm proud to announce some steps that will 
make adoption easier and a more common part of our life in America.
    But first, I want to thank Laura, and I want 
to thank Congresswoman Anne Northup, an 
adoptive mom, for being here, State of Kentucky. And I appreciate Ben 
Cardin from Maryland being here as well. 
Thank you both for coming. I want to thank my Assistant to the President 
for Economic Policy, Larry Lindsey, for being 
here. Larry's an adoptive dad. Thank you for coming, Larry. I'm glad my 
sister-in-law Margaret is here, and 
Marshall. Thank you both for coming.
    I appreciate so very much Bruce Willis in 
his role in this, what you're about to see. It's awfully generous and 
kind of a person who is a busy person to say, ``What can I do to help? 
How can I lend my fame to make America a better place?'' And we 
appreciate that spirit of giving.
    I also want to recognize the fact that his daughters are with us 
today, Rumer and Scout 
and Tallulah. I want to welcome you all. 
Tallulah--actually, Tallulah Belle--[laughter]--followed her 
dad's example of serving something greater than 
self in life. She wrote me a letter informing me that she and her Girl 
Scout troop had raised 36--money to buy 36,000 boxes of Girl Scout 
cookies to send to the children of Afghanistan. And that is--[applause]. 
And we want to thank Demi Moore for coming as 
well. Welcome to the White House, the mom of the three girls.
    I appreciate so very much and want to welcome the families created 
through adoption who are with us today. It is our great

[[Page 1284]]

privilege to welcome you to the people's house, and we hope you enjoy 
your stay as much as we are enjoying our stay. It's a beautiful place. 
[Laughter] And it's a great place to welcome some of our--America's 
heroes, people who are making a huge difference in the lives of our 
fellow citizens.
    I also appreciate the Department of Health and Human Services 
Children's Bureau for their good work. I want to thank you all very much 
for helping to promote this noble cause.
    Common sense and social science lead to the same conclusion: 
Children thrive in secure, loving, and stable homes. Providing that kind 
of home through adoption can be a long and a time-consuming process. I 
understand that. Adopting a child can add to the normal challenges of 
one's daily life. I fully understand that as well. Yet, adoption changes 
a single life forever, and it brings countless blessings to the lives of 
parents.
    Mitch Pearlstein and his wife, 
Diane, live in Minneapolis. They couldn't 
be with us today, but I want to share with you some of his--their quick 
story--their story in a quick way. They adopted their daughter, 
Nicole, when she was 5 years old. Nicole 
was born to a mom who used crack cocaine during her pregnancy and a dad 
who was a drug dealer. Nicole lived in more than a dozen foster care and 
emergency placement homes before she was adopted by Mitch and Diane. 
Here's what Mitch says: ``Adopting Nicole was the most difficult thing 
we've done in our lives, period. And adopting Nicole was the best thing 
we've done in our lives, period.'' I bet some people here understand 
what they were saying.
    As I mentioned, my brother Marvin and 
Margaret have two children who are adopted, 
and many members of my administration do as well. My Secretary of 
Commerce and great friend from Midland, Texas, Don Evans, adopted a little boy. And Larry 
and his wife have adopted children--three 
children. And many here have adopted. Adoptive parents have a special 
calling, and you deserve our gratitude.
    There are many children in America, toddlers, teens, brothers and 
sisters who need to stay together, and children from every background. 
They urgently need love and permanent homes. Finding that home may 
determine a more hopeful course for their entire life. Right now there 
are about 130,000 children in our Nation's foster care system waiting to 
be adopted--130,000 precious lives hoping to find a permanent home. Good 
foster care is essential. Yet, children hunger for the stability of a 
permanent home, and every child deserves to be a part of a permanent, 
loving family. That's our hope.
    Promoting adoption is an issue where all Americans of both political 
parties can agree. It's one of those issues--it's not a partisan issue. 
And for those of us who support the dignity of every human life, we have 
a responsibility to encourage hopeful lives for children who are born.
    Earlier this year, I signed into law the Promoting Safe and Stable 
Families Act, which supports adoption and post-adoptive services to 
place children with loving families. It helps ease a child's transition 
into a new family. It helps ensure that families stay strong and intact. 
It also provides for educational and training vouchers to children 
adopted after the age of 16, as well as older foster youth.
    The tax relief bill I signed into law last year eases the financial 
burden on families that adopt children. It doubled the maximum adoption 
tax credit up to $10,000 for adoption-related expenses. And parents who 
adopt children with special needs will automatically get the full credit 
once the adoption is finalized.
    These are practical ways to help. We're using the Tax Code to help, 
providing Federal dollars to help. We've eased the burdens on adoption, 
but now we must encourage more Americans to choose adoption. And that's 
what we're here to talk about today.

[[Page 1285]]

    And so, today I'm pleased to announce the first Federal adoption web 
site. It's called AdoptUSKids.org. In its first year of operation, the 
web site will feature pictures and profiles of more than 6,500 children 
who are available for adoption as well as maintain a database of 
prospective adoptive parents who have been approved by the States.
    AdoptUSKids.org will help overcome geographic barriers to adoption 
and shorten the time a child may have to wait in foster care. And that's 
important. In addition, the site is a great resource for families who 
have already adopted. I urge parents across America to visit this site 
and, as they visit the site, examine their hearts to find a place in 
their home for a waiting child.
    Today I'm also unveiling a new public service announcement campaign 
to promote adoption. This PSA urges families to consider adopting 
children in foster care. It features the new web site I mentioned and 
provides a toll-free number that families can call to receive useful 
information on how to adopt. The PSA will raise public awareness, and 
our hope is that they will make a difference in the lives of a lot of 
children.
    I'm pleased to tell you that the PSA will feature two distinguished 
Americans. I hand-picked them myself--[laughter]--well, not exactly. But 
Laura and Bruce Willis 
have agreed to serve in the PSA.
    We all know Bruce is a tough guy on the--in 
the movies. Truth of the matter is, he has a tender heart. He has a 
tender heart for children. And I'm thrilled he's our new national 
spokesman for Children in Foster Care. It's my honor to welcome to the 
podium Bruce Willis.

[At this point, actor Bruce Willis, spokesman 
for Children in Foster Care, made brief remarks.]

    The President. Thank you, Bruce. Now we're 
going to watch the PSA, I believe.
    Mr. Willis. Yes. I'm pleased to announce 
this new adoption public service announcement.

[The public service announcement featuring Bruce Willis and Laura Bush was shown.]

    The President. Looks like one of those Oscar-winning performances to 
me. [Laughter] Anyway, thank you both for doing this. I think it's going to make a big 
difference. I do. I want to thank you all for coming again.
    You know, we live in a great country. It's a country full of really 
loving and decent people, and there's no doubt in my mind, when people 
hear the call, they will respond to the needs of a lot of our children, 
just like parents have here today. Laura and I 
had the honor of greeting some adoptive parents to the White House 
today, and we want to thank you all for coming.
    May God bless your work, and may God bless America. Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 2:33 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to his brother Marvin Bush and his 
wife, Margaret, and their daughter, Marshall; actress Demi Moore; and 
Susan Lindsey, wife of Larry Lindsey. The transcript released by the 
Office of the Press Secretary also included the remarks of Bruce Willis. 
The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of these remarks.