IV 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 41 
Supporting a uniform adoption process for foster youth. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 10, 2017 
Mrs. LAWRENCE submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Com-
mittee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting a uniform adoption process for foster youth. 
Whereas there are over 400,000 children in foster care in the 
United States and 107,000 children waiting to be adopt-
ed; 
Whereas the median age for foster children waiting to be 
adopted is 7 years old; 
Whereas the average length of time a child spends in foster 
care is approximately 2 years; 
Whereas domestic adoptions with public child welfare agency 
involvement represent approximately 40 percent of all 
adoptions; 
Whereas families seeking to adopt are expected to undergo a 
home study, which serves to ensure their suitability; 
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•HRES 41 IH 
Whereas the adoption application and content of a home 
study varies from State-to-State, it always involves per-
sonal interviews by an adoption case worker, an examina-
tion of their home, training related to adoption, and in-
formation on their health history and family income; 
Whereas while 4 in 10 people in the United States have con-
sidered adoption, but are concerned about the complexity 
and length of time adopting children from foster care; 
Whereas the National Conference of Commissioners on Uni-
form State Laws is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization 
of more than 300 lawyers, legislators, judges, and aca-
demics who propose legislation to the States in areas sub-
ject to State authority, including all aspects of family 
law; 
Whereas after nearly 5 years of drafting, debate, and discus-
sions with adoption and child welfare experts, in August 
1994 the National Conference of Commissioners on Uni-
form State Laws approved a proposed Uniform Adoption 
Act for submission to State legislatures; 
Whereas in 2005, the Uniform Laws Commission designated 
the Adoption Act from 1994 as a ‘‘model’’ rather than 
a uniform law keeping State adoption policies varied and 
incongruent; 
Whereas the Interstate Compact for the Placement of Chil-
dren has only been enacted by 9 States and cannot be 
considered nationally in effect until passed by 35 States; 
Whereas there is a need for coordination between the Inter-
state Compact for the Placement of Children, the Inter-
state Compact for Juveniles, the Interstate Compact on 
Adoption and Medical Assistance and other compacts af-
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•HRES 41 IH 
fecting the placement of and which provide services to 
children; 
Whereas the Federal Government should provide for a State’s 
continuing legal jurisdiction and responsibility for place-
ment and care of a child that it would have had if the 
placement were intrastate; and 
Whereas Members of the Senate and the House of Represent-
atives have sought to remove barriers to intrastate and 
interstate adoptions and encourage a national standard 
for the adoption process and it has not been acted on leg-
islatively: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports a uniform adoption process of chil-
dren from foster care; and 
(2) promotes the enactment by all States of the 
Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children to 
ensure more children in the United States are placed 
in safe, loving, and permanent homes. 
Æ 
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