Senate Approves National Adoption Awareness Resolution

On November 19, the Senate approved, by unanimous consent, a resolution (S. Res. 474) recognizing November 2004 as National Adoption Awareness Month. Sponsored by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), the resolution contains a number of findings:

• There are approximately 532,000 children in the foster care system in the United States, approximately 129,000 of whom are waiting to be adopted;
• The average length of time a child in foster care remains in foster care is almost 3 years; and
• Every year 25,000 children age out of foster care by reaching adulthood without being placed in a permanent home.

Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) praised the resolution, “By deciding to share their hearts and home with a child, adoptive parents demonstrate great compassion and receive many blessings in return. During National Adoption Month, we recognize the generosity of adoptive and foster families who are providing hope and love, and we encourage the adoption of children of all ages.”

Sen. Landrieu agreed: “Two million children live in adoptive homes today in our country. More extraordinary and more jolting and impressive is the fact that 6 out of every 10 Americans have been personally touched by adoption; either they themselves were adopted or they have adopted into their family or grandparents have received from their biological family adoptive grandchildren.”