IV 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 809 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day and National 
Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the 
children in foster care awaiting families, celebrating children and families 
involved in adoption, recognizing current programs and efforts designed 
to promote adoption, and encouraging people in the United States to 
seek improved safety, permanency, and well-being for all children. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 15, 2012 
Mrs. BACHMANN (for herself, Ms. BASS of California, Mr. LANGEVIN, Mr. 
CRENSHAW, Mr. CONYERS, Mr. GARY G. MILLER of California, Mr. 
BRADY
of Texas, Mr. DAVIS
of Illinois, Mr. GARRETT, Mrs. 
CHRISTENSEN, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Ms. LEE 
of California, Mr. RANGEL, Mrs. HARTZLER, Mr. GRIMM, Mr. WILSON 
of South Carolina, Mr. COBLE, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. HANNA, Mr. THOMP-
SON of Pennsylvania, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. JONES, Mr. GALLE-
GLY, Ms. JENKINS, Mr. ROGERS of Michigan, Mr. FARENTHOLD, Mr. 
SESSIONS, Mr. KING of New York, Mr. NUNNELEE, Mr. ROSS of Florida, 
Mr. WOLF, Mr. TOWNS, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. JACKSON 
LEE of Texas, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. LUETKEMEYER, Mr. HUIZENGA of 
Michigan, Mr. MCGOVERN, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. COO-
PER, and Mr. YOUNG of Alaska) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day 
and National Adoption Month by promoting national 
awareness of adoption and the children in foster care 
awaiting families, celebrating children and families in-
volved in adoption, recognizing current programs and 
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•HRES 809 IH 
efforts designed to promote adoption, and encouraging 
people in the United States to seek improved safety, 
permanency, and well-being for all children. 
Whereas there are 400,540 children in the foster care system 
in the United States, approximately 104,000 of whom are 
waiting for families to adopt them; 
Whereas 59 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 approximately 2 years; 
Whereas for many foster children, the wait for a permanent, 
adoptive, ‘‘forever’’ family in which they are loved, nur-
tured, comforted, and protected seems endless; 
Whereas the number of youth who ‘‘age out’’ of the foster 
care system by reaching adulthood without being placed 
in a permanent home has increased by more than 55 per-
cent since 1999, and more than 27,000 foster youth 
‘‘aged out’’ of foster care during 2010; 
Whereas every day loving and nurturing families are 
strengthened and expanded when committed and dedi-
cated individuals make an important difference in the life 
of a child through adoption; 
Whereas while 3 in 10 people in the United States have con-
sidered adoption, a majority of them have misconceptions 
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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