[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 44 (Monday, November 7, 2005)]
[Pages 1642-1643]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Proclamation 7952--National Adoption Month, 2005

 November 2, 2005

 By the President of the United States

 of America

 A Proclamation

    All children deserve strong families with mothers and fathers who 
are there to protect and love them. Every year, thousands of Americans 
extend the gift of family to a child through adoption. During National 
Adoption Month, we recognize the compassion of adoptive and foster 
families and renew our pledge to finding loving and stable homes for 
children in need.
    Many of our citizens have revealed the good heart of America by 
opening their homes to children through adoption. We are grateful to 
every family who provides a safe, nurturing environment for their 
adopted children. Last year, an estimated 51,000 children were adopted 
from our Nation's foster care system, and tens of thousands more were 
adopted through private agencies and from overseas. Today, more than 
118,000 children remain in foster care in the United States awaiting 
adoption. On November 19, National Adoption Day, thousands of these 
children will celebrate the finalization of their adoptions and go to 
their new homes, secure in the love of families they can now call their 
own.
    My Administration remains committed to encouraging adoption. This 
year, 24 States,

[[Page 1643]]

the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico were 
recognized through our Adoption Incentives Program for their efforts to 
enhance their adoption and child welfare programs. These efforts have 
contributed to an increase in adoptions from 28,000 per year in 1996 to 
an estimated 51,000 in 2004. In addition, the AdoptUSKids initiative, 
which includes 
public service announcements in English 
and Spanish and a website, www.AdoptUSKids.org, has helped place more 
than 5,000 children in permanent homes over the last 3 years.
    As we observe National Adoption Month, we recognize the many caring 
families who have made a difference in a child's life through adoption. 
By giving these children the love, guidance, and support they need to 
grow, adoptive and foster families play a vital role in helping the next 
generation of Americans achieve their dreams.
    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 2005 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 second day of 
November, in the year of our Lord two thousand five, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and 
thirtieth.
                                                George W. Bush

 [Filed with the Office of the Federal Register, 10:58 a.m., November 3, 
2005]

Note: This proclamation was published in the Federal Register on 
November 4.