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[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 787 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>

116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 787

    Expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Month and 
 National Adoption Day by promoting national awareness of adoption and 
 the children waiting for adoption, 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

                            December 2, 2020

Mr. Blunt (for himself, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Lankford, Mr. 
  Cramer, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Loeffler, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. 
 Cotton, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Braun, Mr. Lee, Mr. 
  Wicker, Mr. Risch, Mr. Romney, Mr. Thune, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Scott of 
 South Carolina, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Hyde-Smith, Mr. Daines, Mr. Young, 
   Mr. Roberts, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Rounds, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Bennet, Mr. 
Brown, Mr. Casey, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Hassan, Mr. King, 
  Mr. Manchin, Mr. Peters, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Sinema, Ms. Smith, Mr. Van 
    Hollen, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following 
             resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
    Expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Month and 
 National Adoption Day by promoting national awareness of adoption and 
 the children waiting for adoption, 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 far too many unparented children in the United States;
Whereas the Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System Report on 
        fiscal year 2019 foster care and adoption population characteristics 
        indicates that, in the United States--

    (1) there are approximately 424,000 children in the foster care system, 
approximately 122,200 of whom are waiting for adoption;

    (2) 65 percent of the children in foster care are 10 years of age or 
younger;

    (3) the average length of time a child spends in foster care is 
approximately 20 months;

    (4) during fiscal year 2019, approximately 20,400 youth ``aged out'' of 
foster care by reaching adulthood without being placed in a permanent home; 
and

    (5) during fiscal year 2019, the number of children who--

    G    (A) achieved permanency through adoption increased for the fifth 
year in a row; and

    G    (B) entered foster care decreased for the third year in a row;

Whereas, still, for many foster children, the wait for a loving family in which 
        they are nurtured, comforted, and protected seems endless;
Whereas a survey conducted in 2019 showed that--

    (1) 21 percent of respondents had considered or were considering 
adoption;

    (2) about \1/2\ of respondents viewed adoption through the foster care 
system favorably; and

    (3) of the respondents who had not considered adoption--

    G    (A) 20 percent believed that they could not afford adoption; and

    G    (B) 18 percent believed that they would be unprepared for the 
emotional or health needs of an adopted child;

Whereas the Children's Bureau, an office of the Administration for Children and 
        Families within the Department of Health and Human Services, supports 
        programs, research, and monitoring to help eliminate barriers to 
        adoption and find permanent families for children;
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 the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has presented 
        unprecedented challenges to the United States, the foster care system, 
        prospective adoptive parents, and the children awaiting permanency;
Whereas the President traditionally issues an annual proclamation to declare the 
        month of November as National Adoption Month, and the President has 
        proclaimed November 2020 as National Adoption Month;
Whereas National Adoption Day has been celebrated as a collective national 
        effort to find permanent and loving families for children in the foster 
        care system; and
Whereas the Saturday before Thanksgiving has been recognized as National 
        Adoption Day since at least 2000, and, in 2020, the Saturday before 
        Thanksgiving is November 21: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Adoption 
        Month and National Adoption Day;
            (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 throughout the year.
                                 <all>
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