This legislation, named in honor of my late friend and colleague Sen. John Chafee, provides government resources to help children make the transition from foster care to adulthood and self-sufficiency. Finally, I am working to encourage more families to adopt children who need a permanent home and make it easier for those families who wish to adopt a child to do so. I am a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, a bicameral, non-partisan alliance of members of Congress dedicated to raising awareness about the positive aspects of adoption. I support efforts to make the adoption tax credit permanent. This bill establishes a leadership role for the federal government in the area of adoption, and will hopefully encourage even more private-sector businesses to assist their employees financially should they wish to adopt a child.
Every child has the right to grow up in a loving, stable home.
Keeping our children safe from abuse and neglect, aiding those children who have been placed under the government's care, bringing children and prospective parents together these are all areas in which the federal government can and should play a major role. As your Senator, I will continue to do everything within my power to tend to the welfare of our nation's youngest and most vulnerable citizens.