Jay Rockefeller: “Today, the Senate is taking bipartisan action to pass the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003, which will extend and improve…”

“Today, the Senate is taking bipartisan action to pass the Adoption Promotion Act of 2003, which will extend and improve the adoption bonuses created as part of the 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act. For many years, the Senate has taken a bipartisan approach to adoption and child welfare policy. I am very proud to be one of the lead advocates for this legislation that rewards states which promote adoption and invest in child welfare. Throughout this year, a bipartisan group, led by Finance Chairman Grassley met to forge consensus on extending the adoption incentives, and doing more to focus attention on the needs of older children. President Bush highlighted the need to do more to promote adoptions for children nine years old or older, and Congress agreed. The list of cosponsors, including Senators Landrieu, Bunning, Craig, Baucus, DeWine, Levin, Inhofe, Nelson, Lincoln, Clinton, and Jeffords, demonstrates the broad coalition that can be achieved when we take a bipartisan approach. As I noted, our legislation builds on the foundation set with the 1997 Adoption and Safe Families Act. Since its passage, adoptions from foster care have nearly doubled nationwide and over 900 West Virginia children have a permanent home. By extending and expanding this law, we hope to continue to promote permanent homes, and place a new focus on older children. Despite our success in recent years, across this nation 126,000 children are waiting to be adopted.”