[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 46 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[Pages 1565-1566]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7731--National Adoption Month, 2003

 November 7, 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 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

[[Page 1566]]

of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
twenty-eighth.
                                                George W. Bush

[Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 8:45 a.m., November 12, 
2003]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
November 13. This item was not received in time for publication in the 
appropriate issue.