Angie Craig: “let me talk just a little more about what the Congressional Caucus on Adoption and the coalition we formed actually…”

“let me talk just a little more about what the Congressional Caucus on Adoption and the coalition we formed actually does. As you know, coalitions or caucuses here in the Congress are nonpartisan. We are bicameral. We are an alliance of Members of the House and the Senate, now 150 strong, who work very closely together for the purpose that both Senator Landrieu and I have talked about. We are from all political stripes: Liberal, moderate, conservative. But we have one goal, and that is to help facilitate and change the laws so young people, in search of loving, permanent homes and families can come together. Just this last week, we were able to see the 'adoption bonuses' announced. These are the incentive payments that were created by Congress in the Adoption and Safe Families Act, which provides to States, if you will, the carrot and the stick to assure that States help get more children out of that system once they have determined that the natural parents--if they are still living--are unable or unacceptable to parent these children. Then they move them into adoption and into loving homes.”