A resolution designating November 22, 2025, as National Adoption Day and November 2025 as National Adoption Month to promote 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.
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 513
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Families
- Status
- Passed Senate
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-20: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8399; text: CR S8281)
- Last Updated
- 2025-11-24T16:38:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate resolution aims to raise national awareness about adoption, particularly for children in foster care awaiting permanent families. It celebrates children and families involved in adoption and encourages Americans to support the safety, permanency, and well-being of all children by considering adoption.
Key Provisions
- Designates November 22, 2025 (the Saturday before Thanksgiving), as National Adoption Day.
- Designates the entire month of November 2025 as National Adoption Month.
- Recognizes that every child deserves a permanent and loving family.
- Encourages people across the United States to observe these designations by learning about adoption and considering it as an option during November and throughout the year.
The resolution includes "Whereas" clauses highlighting statistics and facts, such as:
- Over 328,000 children in U.S. foster care as of September 2024, with about 70,000 having adoption as their permanency plan.
- Many children wait nearly three years for adoption, and around 15,590 were at risk of aging out of foster care in 2023 without a permanent home.
- Adoption strengthens families and addresses global issues of unparented children.
- The Children's Bureau (part of the Department of Health and Human Services) supports adoption efforts, and National Adoption Day has helped over 85,000 children find permanent families since 2000.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws or statutes. It builds on longstanding traditions: the President has annually proclaimed November as National Adoption Month, and National Adoption Day has been observed on the Saturday before Thanksgiving since at least 2000.
Potential Impacts
- On citizens: May increase public awareness of foster care challenges and adoption processes, potentially leading to more inquiries or adoptions by reducing misconceptions (e.g., only 1 in 3 adults have considered it, per the resolution).
- On government agencies: Reinforces the role of the Children's Bureau in promoting adoption programs, research, and barrier removal, but imposes no new requirements or funding.
- On international relations: Indirectly acknowledges global unparented children, which could support U.S. efforts in intercountry adoption, though the focus is domestic foster care.
- Overall, the impact is primarily symbolic and educational, fostering a cultural emphasis on family permanency without enforceable obligations.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Children in foster care: Directly benefits those awaiting adoption by highlighting their needs and promoting permanency options like family reunification, kinship care, or adoption.
- Adoptive and potential adoptive families: Celebrates their contributions and encourages more individuals to explore adoption.
- Foster care and child welfare professionals: Supports their work in finding stable homes.
- Government entities: Includes the Department of Health and Human Services (via the Children's Bureau) and aligns with presidential proclamations.
- Broader public: All Americans are encouraged to participate in awareness efforts.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: As a simple resolution agreed to by the Senate, it has no legal force and does not require House approval or presidential signature. It cannot create rights, obligations, or appropriations.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's power to express national policy through resolutions (under Article I), promoting general welfare without infringing on individual rights.
- Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (introduced by senators from both parties) for child welfare issues, continuing a 25-year tradition. It underscores political commitment to addressing foster care backlogs but avoids controversial policy changes, focusing on encouragement rather than mandates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (31)
Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Barrasso, John [R-WY], Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN], Sen. Boozman, John [R-AR], Sen. Cassidy, Bill [R-LA], Sen. Crapo, Mike [R-ID], Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Hagerty, Bill [R-TN], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Hoeven, John [R-ND], Sen. Husted, Jon [R-OH], Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS], Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Lummis, Cynthia M. [R-WY], Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Tuberville, Tommy [R-AL], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Britt, Katie Boyd [R-AL], Sen. Capito, Shelley Moore [R-WV], Sen. Kennedy, John [R-LA], Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Wicker, Roger F. [R-MS], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN]
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-20: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S8399; text: CR S8281)
- 2025-11-20: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Submitted in the Senate, considered, and agreed to without amendment and with a preamble by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-11-20: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Designating November 22, 2025, as National Adoption Day and November 2025 as National Adoption Month to promote 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. — issued 2025-11-20 — PDF (3 pages)