October 28, 2009 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H12001 killed on September 11, 2001, it’s equal- SUPPORTING THE GOALS AND ilies at www.adoptuskids.org, and in Spanish ly important for us to remember the IDEALS OF NATIONAL ADOPTION at www.adopte1.org; hundreds that got to live because those DAY AND NATIONAL ADOPTION Whereas National Adoption Day is a collec- first responders ran into those burning MONTH tive national effort to find permanent, loving families for children in the foster care sys- buildings and saved other people. Of Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I tem; those responders, there were 37 Port move to suspend the rules and agree to Whereas, since the first National Adoption Authority officers killed, there were 23 the resolution (H. Res. 831) supporting Day in 2000, 25,000 children have joined for- New York City police officers, and the goals and ideals of National Adop- ever families during National Adoption Day; there were 343 firefighters, including 41 tion Day and National Adoption Month Whereas in 2008, adoptions were finalized of those who were emergency medical by promoting national awareness of for over 4,600 children through more than 325 National Adoption Day events in all 50 technicians. They gave their lives so adoption and the children in foster care that others could live. States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto awaiting families, celebrating children Rico; That is what they do; that is what and families involved in adoption, rec- Whereas National Adoption Month cele- firefighters do. When they hear the ognizing current programs and efforts brates the gift of adoption, recognizing the alarm, they know they are going to designed to promote adoption, and en- adoptive and foster families who share their danger, but because they are a special couraging people in the United States hearts and homes with children in need, and breed, a rare breed, they do that. They to seek improved safety, permanency, raises awareness of the need for families for do that because their community and and well-being for all children. the many waiting children, particularly older children and teens, children of color, the people are important. And they The Clerk read the title of the resolu- members of sibling groups, and children with rush into that fire, whether it’s a home tion. physical and emotional challenges; and that’s burning in Houston, Texas, or The text of the resolution is as fol- Whereas November 2009 is National Adop- whether it’s an attack on America in lows: tion Month, and November 21, 2009, is Na- New York City. So we honor them by H. RES. 831 tional Adoption Day, and activities and in- passing this resolution to give them a Whereas there are nearly 500,000 children formation about both are available at special memorial day. in the foster care system in the United www.childwelfare.gov/adoption/nam/activi- States, approximately 130,000 of whom are ties.cfm: Now, therefore, be it Every year in October, we recognize waiting for families to adopt them; Resolved, That the House of Representa- the sacrifice and the commitment that Whereas nearly 54 percent of the children tives— these firefighters do for this country in foster care are age 10 or younger; (1) supports the goals and ideals of Na- and for the people of this Nation. Whereas the average length of time a child tional Adoption Day and National Adoption Month; And that’s just the way it is. spends in foster care is more than 2 years; Whereas, for many foster children, the (2) recognizes that every child in foster I yield back the balance of my time. wait for a permanent, adoptive, ‘‘forever’’ care deserves a permanent and loving family; (3) recognizes the significant commitment Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, in closing, family in which they are loved, nurtured, comforted, and protected seems endless; of taxpayers to support adoption, including I want to thank the gentleman for of- the $1,900,000,000 provided to support adop- fering this resolution. I want to thank Whereas the number of youth who ‘‘age out’’ of the foster care system by reaching tion through the Title IV–E Adoption Assist- him for his kind words and eloquent adulthood without being placed in a perma- ance program, as well as the assistance pro- words on behalf of our firefighters. I nent home has increased by more than 60 vided through the Title IV–E Foster Care offer my own condolences to the fami- percent since 1998, as nearly 28,000 foster program to 130,000 children waiting for adop- lies of Houston—the Harlow, Burke, youth ‘‘aged out’’ of foster care during 2007; tive families, among other important pro- Kulow, Jahnke, Mayo and Smith fami- Whereas every day loving and nurturing grams; and (4) encourages the citizens of the United lies—as well as in my own State, the families are strengthened and expanded when committed and dedicated individuals make States to consider adoption of children in Roberts family and Beverly and Kevin foster care who are waiting for a permanent, Kelley’s family out of Local 718 in Bos- an important difference in the life of a child through adoption; loving family. ton because their loss has been so re- Whereas, while 3 in 10 people in the United The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- cent and heartfelt. States have considered adoption, a majority ant to the rule, the gentleman from Il- I want to also mention BILL of them have misconceptions about the proc- linois (Mr. DAVIS) and the gentle- PASCRELL of New Jersey, who on our ess of adopting children from foster care and woman from Florida (Ms. GINNY side is a true champion of the cause of the children who are eligible for adoption; BROWN-WAITE) each will control 20 firefighters for all the reasons that the Whereas 71 percent of those who have con- minutes. sidered adoption consider adopting children gentleman has articulated. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from foster care above other forms of adop- from Illinois. I thank the gentleman. And I ask all tion; Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I our colleagues on both sides of the Whereas 45 percent of people in the United yield myself such time as I might con- aisle to support this resolution hon- States believe that children enter the foster care system because of juvenile delinquency, sume. oring American firefighters by passing Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support House Resolution 729. when in reality the vast majority of children in the foster care system were victims of ne- of H. Res. 831, a resolution supporting Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance glect, abandonment, or abuse; the goals and ideals of National Adop- of my time. Whereas 46 percent of people in the United tion Day and National Adoption The SPEAKER pro tempore. The States believe that foster care adoption is Month. expensive, when in reality there is no sub- I am pleased to have worked with question is on the motion offered by stantial cost for adopting from foster care, the gentleman from Massachusetts Congresswoman BROWN-WAITE, Con- and financial support in the form of an adop- gressman TIBERI, and Congressman (Mr. LYNCH) that the House suspend tion assistance subsidy is available to adop- the rules and agree to the resolution, MCDERMOTT on this legislation. tive families of eligible children adopted On any given day, there are over a H. Res. 729. from foster care and continues after the half million children in our Nation’s The question was taken. adoption is finalized until the child is 18, so that income will not be a barrier to becom- foster care system, of which nearly The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the ing a parent to a foster child who needs to 130,000 are waiting for a permanent opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being belong to a family; home through adoption. While 51,000 in the affirmative, the ayes have it. Whereas significant tax credits are avail- children found a family to call their able to families who adopt children with spe- own last year through adoption, far too Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, on cial needs; that I demand the yeas and nays. many children in the foster care sys- Whereas the Department of Health and tem remain waiting for some level of The yeas and nays were ordered. Human Services, Administration for Chil- permanency. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- dren and Families, in a partnership with the Ad Council, supports a national recruitment Adoption provides children who are ant to clause 8 of rule XX and the campaign for adoptive parents; unable to return to their biological Chair’s prior announcement, further Whereas the Collaboration to AdoptUsKids homes with the opportunity to be proceedings on this motion will be features a photolisting Website for waiting raised in a safe and loving home, pro- postponed. foster children and prospective adoptive fam- viding them a level of stability that VerDate Nov 24 2008 05:09 Jan 16, 2010 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00131 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD09\RECFILES\H28OC9.REC H28OC9 mmaher on DSK69SOYB1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE H12002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE October 28, 2009 generally cannot be found in foster sional district has the highest percent- Day so effective and so very important care. age of children living with kinship in the lives of the Nation’s nearly Adoption is an important option for caregivers in the Nation, followed by 500,000 foster children. Since the tradi- many children in the foster care sys- the First Congressional District of Illi- tion began in the year 2000, over 25,000 tem.