    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 117, 108th Congress, 1st Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    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

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