[Page S6515]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL ADOPTION MONTH

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, November is National Adoption Month. 
This year, we have very good news.
  In 2018, over 63,000 young people were adopted from foster care. That 
is an increase of 4,000 from the previous year. However, the number of 
children waiting for adoption also increased. That number rose to 
125,000. Unfortunately, teenagers, sibling groups, and those with 
medical challenges often wait much longer to be adopted. Every child 
deserves a safe, permanent, loving home, so I want to commend all those 
who have chosen to adopt children in foster care.
  If you wonder where I get the opinion that it is unfortunate that 
people want a permanent, safe, and loving home, all you have to do is 
listen to the kids in the foster care system, and you always get this 
response: What I would like to have is a mom and dad, and I would like 
to have a home. In other words, they get tired of being shuffled around 
from one foster home to another foster home, to another foster home. 
That is where I come from in recognizing November as National Adoption 
Month.
  I yield the floor.

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