[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 36, Number 45 (Monday, November 13, 2000)]
[Pages 2811-2812]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7371--National Adoption Month, 2000

 November 7, 2000

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    Families are the cornerstone of our Nation. Yet, today, tens of 
thousands of America's children are living within our child welfare 
system, without the sustained love and care of permanent families. For 
many of these children, often shuttled from one living situation to 
another, adoption opens the door to loving parents and permanent homes, 
where they can put down roots and learn what it means to be part of a 
safe, stable family. Adoption gives children who have been orphaned, 
abandoned, or abused a precious second chance at happiness; a chance to 
love and be loved and to reach their full potential in a secure, 
supportive environment.
    While foster care offers children a safe temporary haven, adoption 
allows children to have the permanent homes they deserve. That is why 
increasing the chances of adoption for children in the foster care 
system has been one of my Administration's chief goals. Over the last 8 
years, we have worked with the Congress to craft legislation that makes 
it easier, faster, and more affordable for parents to adopt children. 
Adoptive parents--like all new parents--can now take time off to care 
for their newly adopted children without fear of losing their jobs. We

[[Page 2812]]

have ensured health coverage for adopted children with special needs, 
barred discrimination and delays of adoptions on the basis of race or 
ethnicity, provided tax cuts to families adopting children, and offered 
States financial incentives to move children more rapidly from foster 
care into the permanent homes of loving families.
    We are beginning to see dramatic results from these efforts. Last 
year alone, 46,000 foster children were adopted--an increase of nearly 
65 percent since 1996. All 50 States, as well as the District of 
Columbia and Puerto Rico, have succeeded in increasing the number of 
children adopted from their child welfare systems. This puts us well on 
the way to meeting my goal of doubling the annual number of adoptions 
from 28,000 in 1996 to 56,000 in 2002.
    Despite our efforts, nearly 20,000 18-year-olds still leave foster 
care each year without the emotional, social, and financial support that 
adoptive families provide. To help them make the challenging transition 
to successful, independent adulthood, I signed the Foster Care 
Independence Act last year. This legislation provides young people who 
are growing too old for the foster care system with better educational 
opportunities and access to health care, training, housing assistance, 
counseling, and other services.
    As we observe National Adoption Month, we should take pride in our 
progress, but realize that there is more work to be done. Let us 
recommit ourselves to giving our Nation's most vulnerable children what 
every child deserves and needs--a safe, stable home and a loving family. 
And let us also give thanks for the many generous and compassionate 
families who, through adoption, have opened their hearts and homes and 
changed a child's life forever.
     Now, Therefore, I, William J. Clinton, 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 
2000 as National Adoption Month. I urge all Americans to observe this 
month with appropriate programs and activities to honor adoptive 
families and to participate in efforts to find permanent, loving 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, and of the Independence 
of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fifth.
                                            William J. Clinton

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., November 9, 
2000]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
November 13.