IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 1220 

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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 16, 2020 

Mr. ADERHOLT (for himself, Ms. SHALALA, Mr. FLEISCHMANN, Mr. 

FITZPATRICK, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. LANGEVIN, 

Mr. LOUDERMILK, Mr. STAUBER, Mr. BACON, Ms. SEWELL of Alabama, 

Mr. LOWENTHAL, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. WELCH, Mr. MITCHELL, Mr. 

COMER, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Ms. CRAIG, Mr. 

SCHWEIKERT, Mrs. BEATTY, Ms. SHERRILL, Mr. PERLMUTTER, Mr. 

BROWN of Maryland, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. LYNCH, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. 

MARSHALL, Ms. BASS, Mr. HARDER of California, Mr. HICE of Georgia, 

Mr. OLSON, Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee, Mr. BALDERSON, Mr. 

CLOUD, Mr. JOHNSON of Louisiana, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. 

HASTINGS, and Mr. BISHOP of Utah) submitted the following resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor 

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. 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HRES 1220 IH 

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— 

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

(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— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HRES 1220 IH 

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

(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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HRES 1220 IH 

1 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

2 Adoption Month and National Adoption Day; 

3 (2) recognizes that every child should have a 

4 permanent and loving family; and 

5 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

6 to consider adoption during the month of November 

7 and throughout the year. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS