IV 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 704 

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 14, 2019 

Ms. SHALALA (for herself and Mr. ADERHOLT) 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. 

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 2018 foster care and 

adoption population characteristics (referred to in this 

preamble as the ‘‘AFCARS report’’) indicates that there 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
2 

•HRES 704 IH 

are approximately 437,300 children in the foster care 

system in the United States, approximately 125,400 of 

whom are waiting for adoption; 

Whereas the AFCARS report indicates that— 

(1) 65 percent of the children in foster care in the 

United States are 10 years of age or younger; 

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

(3) in 2018, approximately 17,800 youth ‘‘aged out’’ 

of foster care by reaching adulthood without being placed 

in a permanent home; and 

(4) in 2018, the number of children who— 

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

(B) entered foster care decreased for the second 

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 2017 (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘2017 survey’’) showed that a quarter of 

respondents who had not adopted had considered adoption; 

Whereas the 2017 survey showed that 46 percent of respondents either somewhat or strongly agreed that children 

enter the foster care system because of juvenile delinquency, despite the AFCARS report revealing that neglect was associated with 62 percent of cases involving 

the removal of a child, or approximately 163,500 cases; 

Whereas the 2017 survey showed that— 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
3 

•HRES 704 IH 

(1) 39 percent of respondents believed foster care 

adoption is expensive; and 

(2) a majority of respondents considering foster care 

adoption indicated that receiving financial and emotional 

support would make a difference in their decision to pursue adoption; 

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 President traditionally issues an annual proclamation to declare the month of November 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 2019, the Saturday before Thanksgiving is November 

23: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) supports the goals and ideals of National 

3 Adoption Month and National Adoption Day; 

4 (2) recognizes that every child should have a 

5 permanent and loving family; and 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS
4 

•HRES 704 IH 

1 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

2 to consider adoption during the month of November 

3 and throughout the year. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS