On November 14, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a bill (H.R. 3182) to reauthorize payments to states to promote adoption. The House approved the measure on October 8 (see The Source, 10/10/03). H.R. 3182 will now go to the White House for the President’s signature. Sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI), the Adoption Promotion Act would reauthorize $43 million for FY2004-2008 for the Adoption Incentives Payment program. The bill would provide states with additional funds if the number of adoptions exceeds the previous year’s level: $4,000 per child; an additional $2,000 for each child with special needs; an additional $4,000 for each child age nine or older. Finally, the measure would require the Department of Health and Human Services to report by October 1, 2004, on states’ efforts to promote adoption.
