H.Res. 1577

[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1577 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. RES. 1577

Expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Day and National 
Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the 
children awaiting families, celebrating children and families involved 
in adoption, and encouraging the people of the United States to secure 
safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

November 18, 2024

Mr. Aderholt (for himself, Mr. Smith of Washington, Ms. Mace, Mr. 
Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Ezell, Ms. Norton, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ms. Kuster, 
Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Moulton, Mr. Kelly of Pennsylvania, Ms. Moore of 
Wisconsin, Mr. Johnson of South Dakota, Mr. Swalwell, Mr. Finstad, Mrs. 
Hayes, Mr. Stauber, Ms. Brownley, Mr. Griffith, Mrs. Torres of 
California, Mr. Kean of New Jersey, Ms. McClellan, Mr. Moolenaar, Mr. 
Buchanan, Mrs. Houchin, Mr. Lawler, Mr. Ellzey, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. 
Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Carl, Mr. Wittman, Mrs. Hinson, Ms. Letlow, 
and Mr. Smith of Nebraska) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for the goals of National Adoption Day and National 
Adoption Month by promoting national awareness of adoption and the 
children awaiting families, celebrating children and families involved 
in adoption, and encouraging the people of the United States to secure 
safety, permanency, and well-being for all children.

Whereas there are millions of unparented children in the world, including 
368,000 children in the foster care system in the United States, 
approximately 108,000 of whom are waiting for families to adopt them;
Whereas the average length of time a child spends in foster care waiting to be 
adopted is 34.9 months;
Whereas, for many unparented children, the wait for a loving family, in which 
the children are nurtured, comforted, and protected, seems endless;
Whereas, in 2022, 18,500 children were at risk of aging out of foster care by 
reaching adulthood without being placed in a permanent home;
Whereas, every day, loving and nurturing families are strengthened and expanded 
when committed and dedicated individuals make an important difference in 
the life of a child through adoption;
Whereas, while 1 in 3 adults in the United States have considered adoption, a 
majority of individuals in the United States have misperceptions about 
the process of adopting children from foster care and the children who 
are eligible for adoption;
Whereas family reunification, kinship care, and domestic and intercountry 
adoption promote greater permanency and stability for children;
Whereas the Children's Bureau, an office of the Administration for Children and 
Families within the Department of Health and Human Services, supports 
programs, research, and monitoring to help eliminate barriers to 
adoption and find permanent families for children;
Whereas National Adoption Day is a collective national effort to find permanent, 
loving families for children in the foster care system;
Whereas, since the first National Adoption Day in 2000, more than 85,000 
children have joined permanent families on National Adoption Day;
Whereas the President traditionally issues an annual proclamation to declare the 
month of November as National Adoption Month, and the President has 
proclaimed November 2024 as National Adoption Month; and
Whereas the Saturday before Thanksgiving has been recognized as National 
Adoption Day since at least 2000, and in 2024, the Saturday before 
Thanksgiving is November 23: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) supports the goals and ideals of National Adoption Day 
and National Adoption Month;
(2) recognizes that every child should have a permanent and 
loving family; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to consider 
adoption during the month of November and throughout the year.
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