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[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 315 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 315

  Expressing support for the goals of both National Adoption Day and 
National Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and 
   the children awaiting families, celebrating children and families 
 involved in adoption, and encouraging the people of the United States 
     to secure safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 18, 2015

 Mr. Blunt (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. 
Casey, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Thune, Ms. Ayotte, Mr. Cochran, 
Mr. Hatch, Mr. Portman, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Moran, Mr. Lee, Mr. Enzi, Mr. 
Alexander, Mr. McCain, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Daines, Ms. Heitkamp, 
Mr. Franken, Mr. Peters, Mr. King, Mr. Hoeven, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Tillis, 
 Mrs. Ernst, and Mr. Scott) submitted the following resolution; which 
                      was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
  Expressing support for the goals of both National Adoption Day and 
National Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and 
   the children awaiting families, celebrating children and families 
 involved in adoption, and encouraging the people of the United States 
     to secure safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.

Whereas there are millions of unparented children in the world, including 
        415,129 children in the foster care system in the United States, 
        approximately 108,000 of whom are waiting for families to adopt them;
Whereas 62 percent of the children in foster care in the United States are age 
        10 or younger;
Whereas the average length of time a child spends in foster care is 
        approximately 2 years;
Whereas for many foster children, the wait for a loving family in which the 
        children are nurtured, comforted, and protected seems endless;
Whereas, in 2014, over 22,000 youth ``aged out'' of foster care by reaching 
        adulthood without being placed in a permanent home;
Whereas every day, loving and nurturing families are strengthened and expanded 
        when committed and dedicated individuals make an important difference in 
        the life of a child through adoption;
Whereas a 2007 survey conducted by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption 
        demonstrated that although ``Americans overwhelmingly support the 
        concept of adoption, and in particular foster care adoption . . . foster 
        care adoptions have not increased significantly over the past 5 years'';
Whereas while 4 in 10 people of the United States have considered adoption, a 
        majority of the people of the United States have misconceptions about 
        the process of adopting children from foster care and the children who 
        are eligible for adoption;
Whereas 50 percent of the people of the United States believe that children 
        enter the foster care system because of juvenile delinquency when, in 
        reality, the vast majority of children who have entered the foster care 
        system were victims of neglect, abandonment, or abuse;
Whereas 39 percent of the people of the United States believe that foster care 
        adoption is expensive when, in reality, there is no substantial cost for 
        adopting from foster care and financial support is available to adoptive 
        parents after the adoption is finalized;
Whereas family reunification, kinship care, and domestic and inter-county 
        adoption promote permanency and stability to a far greater degree than 
        long-term institutionalization and long-term, often disrupted, foster 
        care;
Whereas both National Adoption Day and National Adoption Month occur in the 
        month of November;
Whereas National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to find permanent, 
        loving families for children in the foster care system;
Whereas, since the first National Adoption Day in 2000, nearly 54,500 children 
        have joined permanent families during National Adoption Day;
Whereas, in 2014, nearly 400 events were held in the United States finalizing 
        the adoptions of approximately 4,500 children from foster care;
Whereas the President traditionally issues an annual proclamation to declare the 
        month of November as National Adoption Month; and
Whereas National Adoption Day is on November 21, 2015: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of both National Adoption 
        Day and National Adoption Month;
            (2) recognizes that every child should have a permanent and 
        loving family; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to consider 
        adoption during the month of November and all throughout the 
        year.
                                 <all>
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