“Adoption is a wonderful way to form families, and I hope all caring adults will consider opening their homes and hearts to a child in need.”
Tragically, hundreds of thousands of children -- our most vulnerable citizens -- never have such a home. To help bring more waiting children home, I have worked on many different levels to assure that the adoption process is an option for all families.
As an adoptive father, I know how much joy can be brought into one's life through adopting a child, but also how difficult it can sometimes be to wade through the adoption process. As a legislator, I know that the process can be made easier so that many more Americans can form families through adoption.
One of the most rewarding challenges of my legislative career has been working for children, and I am committed to continuing these efforts.
Finding a Family
for Every Child
by US Senator Larry Craig
June 8, 2006
Over half a million abused and neglected children in the United States have taken temporary refuge in foster care, and almost 120,000 of these children are currently waiting for adoption.
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“Every year, thousands of Americans extend the gift of family to a child through adoption. During National Adoption Month, we recognize the compassion of adoptive and foster families and renew our pledge to finding loving and stable homes for children in need. ”
-National Adoption Month Proclamation by President Bush, November 2, 2005
| Presidential Proclamation: National Adoption Month 2005 |
Fortunately for the guests, Paul and I were able to practice briefly a few hours before the event.Paul Shaffer helps kick-off National Adoption Month in 2005
On November 3, 2005, I was pleased to host an event to raise funds for the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). Paul Shaffer, of late night television fame, attended and accompanied me on the piano as we entertained the guests. To listen to the songs, you may access the links to the audio files below. It was an outstanding event to help raise awareness of the challenges facing the foster care system, children seeking adoption, and adoptive parents.
As one of the founders of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, I have been working with other members of Congress to address the obstacles to adoption that exist today, and find ways to make it easier for more children to find their "forever families."
Learn more about: CCAI or Paul Shaffer
Access my MediaClips library for more pics and to listen to a few of the songs we sang.
The Angels in Adoption public awareness program begun by the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute in 1999 offers us an opportunity to say thank you to those making a difference in the lives of children through adoption and foster care, and also helps to raise the positive awareness of adoption in our communities. The Angels in Adoption Gala, held each year in Washington, DC, showcases ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things, honoring selected "Angels" from across the nation who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans. National Angel honorees are also selected each year and have included Muhammad Ali, Victoria Rowell, Bruce Willis, Dave Thomas, and Steven Curtis Chapman. This year, more than 190 Members of Congress participated, making it the year's single most significant congressional event pertaining to child welfare.
Learn more about the Angels in Adoption program on the CCAI website.
My wife Suzanne and I joined Shari and Kent, Idaho's "Angels" for 2005, at the Angels in Adoption Gala.Idaho's "Angels in Adoption" for 2005
Some people might think their parenting days were over, after they had raised seven children. But for Shari and Kent Johnson, that was only a warmup to adopting a sibling group of five from the foster care system. This couple's adoption journey started when one of Shari's high school students jokingly called her "Mother," saying, "Well, you're the closest thing I have to a mother anyway." Shari was struck that a student could feel so close after spending only 40 minutes a day with her. "I started to think, I really enjoy teenagers. Maybe I should be a foster parent." But when she asked Kent if he wanted to foster children, he was not sure he could handle saying goodbye over and over. Later, they watched the filming of a Wednesday's Child segment and both felt they could provide the stable, permanent, loving home needed by a group of brothers and sisters who wanted to stay together. Their youngest son, a high school senior at the time, supported their decision and even wrote to an adoption committee urging them to select his family. The adoption was finalized a year ago. Today, Shari and Kent find life very busy, juggling the challenges of three teenagers and two almost-teens, in addition to seven grown children and six grandchildren. Yet laughter and love abound when they talk about their family. Their story is an inspiration to anyone who wants to make a positive, lasting difference in the life of a child, and demonstrates they truly deserve to be recognized as Angels in Adoption.
I recently led a delegation to India to help promote adoption both inside and outside of India and to share ideas on improving the welfare of children. I thought you might be interested in some photos from my trip. Move your mouse over a thumbnail image to display it in the viewer, or click on the thumbnail to open a high resolution version in a pop-up window.
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The Executive Director of CCAI, Deanna Carlson Stacy (center), with the Institute's Congressional directors, Representative Oberstar, Senators Landrieu and Craig, and Representative Camp.Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute
I am proud to co-chair the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, along with Senator Mary Landrieu, Representative Dave Camp, and Representative Jim Oberstar. The Coalition is an informal, nonpartisan, bicameral alliance of members of Congress who support adoption.
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption was founded in 1985 by former Senators Lloyd Bentsen and Gordon Humphrey to bring together members of Congress dedicated to improving adoption policies and services. The purpose of the Coalition is to focus public attention on the advantages of adoption for all concerned -- the child, the biological parents, and the adoptive parents.
The Congressional Coalition on Adoption has held numerous special hearings and staff briefings to provide information on the often complex issues involved with adoption. The Coalition informs its members of the variety of proposed adoption-related legislation; however, the Coalition does not take formal positions on any specific pieces of legislation, as there are often legitimate differences of opinion on the appropriate strategies to reach the goal of ensuring sound, ethical adoption for all who may benefit.
I introduced the Hope For Children Act in the Senate on January 23, 2001. It was folded into the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act, which passed Congress and was signed into law by President Bush on June 7, 2001.
The Hope For Children Act extends the tax credit for adoption expenses that was due to expire at the end of 2001. It also increases the tax credit to $10,000 for all adoptions, and makes other changes to improve the credit for America's adopting families
S.148/H.R.622
Signed into law: June 7, 2001, as part of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act
Introduced: January 23, 2001, by Senator Larry Craig
Senate sponsors: Larry Craig (R-ID), Mary Landrieu (D-LA), Ted Stevens (R-AK), Tim Johnson (D-SD), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Jeff Sessions (R-AL), Rick Santorum (R-PA), Richard Shelby (R-AL), Bob Smith (R-NH), Mike DeWine (R-OH), Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), Tom Harkin (D-IA), Mark Dayton (D-MN), Herb Kohl (D-WI), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Tim Hutchinson (R-AR), Tom Daschle (D-SD), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Jon Corzine (D-NJ)
Background: Two tax provisions that assist families who adopt were due to expire December 31, 2001:
- the adoption tax credit, which allows families to take a tax credit of up to $5000 for the qualified expenses of adopting a child (a $6,000 credit for families adopting a child with special needs was already permanent);
- and the exclusion for employer-provided adoption benefits (same dollar limitations).
The Hope For Children Act extends, increases, and improves current law:
- it makes both the tax credit and exclusion permanent for all adopting families.
- it increases the non-special needs adoption tax credit and exclusion from $5,000 to $10,000, beginning after December 31, 2001.
- it increases the adoption tax credit for families adopting special needs children from $6,000 to $10,000. For tax years after December 31, 2002, the special needs credit will be "de-linked" from cumbersome and inflexible IRS regulations that exclude a wide range of legitimate adoption expenses related to these children.
- it protects the benefit of the tax credit by excluding it from calculation of the alternative minimum tax.
- it makes both provisions available to more families, by lifting the cap on income eligibility for the full benefit to $150,000, and for partial benefit to $190,000.
Learn more about the specifics of the Hope for Children Act from the Internal Revenue Service:
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