Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, the Child Welfare League of America says of this amendment, ``This amendment would unnecessarily limit the pool of families available for these children who desperately need families.'' Make no mistake. This is a gay-bashing amendment, but it is going to take down a lot of kids with it. This matter of adoption rests entirely with the courts. They do it on the best interests of the child. They will not allow a child to go except where a child must be. In the District we have many hard-to-place kids. Three thousand six hundred kids are in foster care and are waiting to be adopted. Our whole foster care system is in receivership. Is this a family values Congress or not? Are two parents better than one? Is it not the child who matters? Studies have been done that show no developmental differences, for example, between gay and nongay parents. The language here is aimed at gays. Who it hits are kids in the District. There are substantial advantages to a child in joint adoptions, even when the parents are not married. There are inheritance rights, there are insurance rights, there is Social Security. We ought to encourage the added security of joint adoptions, not discourage it. This is family law. Do not bring it into this Chamber. Defeat this amendment. Save the kids.”