III 

111TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 291 

Expressing support for the goals of 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 Americans to secure safety, permanency, and 

well-being for all children. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2009 

Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Mrs. LINCOLN, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. BURR, Mr. 

KERRY, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. THUNE, Mr. ALEXANDER, Mr. 

MENENDEZ, Mr. BROWNBACK, Mr. BAUCUS, Mr. REID, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. VITTER, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. 

JOHNSON, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. BEGICH, Mrs. 

HUTCHISON, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. CONRAD, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. 

JOHANNS, Mr. HATCH, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. NELSON of Nebraska, Mr. 

BROWN, Mr. GREGG, Mr. SPECTER, Mr. CASEY, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. 

DODD, and Mr. RISCH) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for the goals of 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 Americans to secure safety, permanency, and well-being for all children. 


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•SRES 291 IS 

Whereas there are approximately 510,000 children in the foster care system in the United States, approximately 

129,000 of whom are waiting for families to adopt them; 

Whereas 61 percent of the children in foster care are age 10 

or younger; 

Whereas the average length of time a child spends in foster 

care is over 3 years; 

Whereas, for many foster children, the wait for a loving family in which they are nurtured, comforted, and protected 

seems endless; 

Whereas the number of youth who ‘‘age out’’ of foster care 

by reaching adulthood without being placed in a permanent home has continued to increase since 1998, and 

more than 26,000 foster youth age out every year; 

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 though 

‘‘Americans overwhelmingly support the concept of adoption, and in particular foster care adoption . . . foster 

care adoptions have not increased significantly over the 

past five years’’; 

Whereas, while 4 in 10 Americans have considered adoption, 

a majority of Americans have misperceptions about the 

process of adopting children from foster care and the 

children who are eligible for adoption; 

Whereas 71 percent of those who have considered adoption 

consider adopting children from foster care above other 

forms of adoption; 


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•SRES 291 IS 

Whereas 45 percent of Americans 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 46 percent of Americans 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 both National Adoption Day and National Adoption 

Month occur in 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, 

more than 25,000 children have joined forever families 

during National Adoption Day; 

Whereas, in 2008, adoptions were finalized for over 4,500 

children through more than 325 National Adoption Day 

events in all 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto 

Rico, and Guam; and 

Whereas the President traditionally issues an annual proclamation to declare November as National Adoption 

Month, and National Adoption Day is on November 21, 

2009: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Adoption Day and National Adoption Month; 


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•SRES 291 IS 

1 (2) recognizes that every child should have a 

2 permanent and loving family; and 

3 (3) encourages the citizens of the United States 

4 to consider adoption during the month of November 

5 and all throughout the year. 

Æ 


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