    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 33, Number 46 (Monday, November 17, 1997)]
    [Pages 1800-1801]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Statement on Congressional Action on the ``Adoption and Safe Families
    Act of 1997''

    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

    [[Page 1801]]

    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.