On the recordNovember 17, 2016
Saturday is National Adoption Day. It is an annual celebration of the thousands of new adoptions that take place every year. It is also an opportunity to raise awareness of the thousands of children who are still in foster care in need of permanent homes. Since National Adoption Day was started 16 years ago, several children advocacy groups, including the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, have worked with foster care agencies and courts in all 50 States to finalize more than 40,000 adoptions to take place on that day. This is amazing work that helps bring wonderful additions to selfless, committed families. It is great to see so many children finding new beginnings through adoption, but it is also important to remember those who are still in need of permanent homes. There are more than 100,000 children who are waiting for an adoptive family in foster care, and, on average, they wait nearly 3 years to be adopted. Every child deserves to grow up in a loving family and a safe and open-hearted home. Mr. Speaker, adoption is a joyous occasion for thousands of children and families, and National Adoption Day is a reminder of how to create more of these powerful life-changing experiences. ____________________
