In recognition of the importance of adoption for the 130,000 children waiting for a family, U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-MI, and the House have passed a resolution supporting National Adoption Month, November, and National Adoption Day, Nov. 21.

For more information on National Adoption Day and events in your area this month, please click here. To see more on Camp’s extensive background on adoption issues, see below.

Camp released the following statement of support for the bill:

“Madam Speaker:  I am pleased to rise today in support of H. Res. 831, a resolution that recognizes the successes of federal efforts to encourage adoption, and honors National Adoption Day and Month.

As an avid adoption supporter, I believe that Congress must continue to promote the adoption of children into safe and loving homes.  Through our work in 1997 as part of the Adoption and Safe Families Act, and more recently through the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Congress has made significant advances in providing more options for children in need.  

Yet, far too many children, nearly 130,000, are waiting in foster care programs throughout our country for families to adopt them.  These children should be given every opportunity to lead successful lives, and one way to make that happen is to increase the adoption of these children into safe, permanent, loving homes.  

That is why National Adoption Day and Month are so important.  This year, National Adoption Day will take place on November 21, and is designed for communities around the country to highlight adoptions.  Last year there were events in all 50 states during which the adoptions of 4,000 children were finalized.  

This year is especially important, as the National Adoption Day is celebrating its 10 year anniversary.  This is a significant achievement from its humble beginnings, when Los Angeles County Judge Michael Nash started “Adoption Saturdays” to help facilitate the adoption of foster children.  

I have been honored to participate in National Adoption Day over the past several years.  To be part of such a special occasion reinforces the need for further efforts to move kids into adoptive homes.  

I would also like to highlight the efforts of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute to promote adoption through its annual Angels in Adoption Awards Ceremony, held in September.  This event also highlights those that have opened their hearts and their homes.   

This year, I was honored to nominate Sarah and Steve Rosinski, from Traverse City, Michigan, as Angels in Adoption.  Steve and Sarah became foster parents when a young boy name Logan was placed in their home.  Coming from a difficult family, Logan needed special attention and care.  The Rosinskis gave him the love and support he needed to thrive and made him a permanent addition to their family by adopting him in 2007.  

They now are fostering a baby girl, also coming to them with early challenges – again, putting the child’s best interests first, they are working on a reunification plan with her family.  The Rosinksis have never asked for recognition for what they have done, they have simply done what is right.  This is what National Adoption Day is all about.

I first got involved by helping families with their adoption proceedings as their attorney.  I strongly believe that we have the ability and the opportunity to help encourage adoption and help those in the foster care system.  That is why it is so important to recognize the families who make extraordinary efforts to welcome children into their family and highlight the importance of National Adoption Day and Month.

Thank you, Madam Speaker.”
 
BACKGROUND
U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-MI, is one of the leading adoption and foster care proponents and experts in the House.

He has a long background and insight into foster care and adoption issues. As an attorney in private practice before his first election, Rep. Camp worked extensively with parents and children in the foster care system. His experiences have informed his introduction of a number of landmark adoption legislation, including the Adoption and Safe Families Act, and led to his reputation as one of the House's leading adoption and foster care proponents and experts.

The Adoption and Safe Families Act put the health and safety of children first, and gave our nation’s foster children a fighting chance. It streamlines the adoption process to quickly help move more children in foster care into permanent adoptive homes. The law also offers incentives to states to increase the number of adoptions, and require them to more aggressively pursue adoption efforts when a child’s safety is in danger. Camp’s legislation also spurred National Adoption Day (November 21, 2009) and National Adoption Month (November), while encouraging adoption throughout the year.
###