SENATE RESOLUTION No. 48

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED MAY 30, 1996

By Senators BUBBA and BASSANO

A Senate Resolution memorializing Congress to enact HR 3286, concerning tax incentives for prospective adoptive parents.

Whereas, Currently there are 500,000 children in foster care throughout the United States; 49% of those children are minorities. These children often languish in foster homes, deprived of the unique bond shared by a parent and child, whether natural or adoptive, causing them to develop emotional and psychological problems and making it more difficult for them to grow into healthy, productive and independent adults; and

Whereas, HR 3286, entitled the "Adoption Promotion and Stability Act of 1996," now pending in the United States House of Representatives, provides tax credits for families who are interested in adopting special needs children; and

Whereas, Only about 50,000 adoptions are approved each year in this country, some of them at exorbitant costs. This makes it more difficult for individuals, interested in providing stable and loving homes to children in foster care, to adopt. Tax credits would help prospective adoptive families defray adoption costs and create a system where no child is denied access to loving parents and a healthy home; and

Whereas, It is the obligation of the federal government to remove all barriers to the adoption process so children do not have to wait to be placed in permanent homes; HR 3286 would provide incentives to make it easier for families to adopt children in need; now, therefore,

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

    1.     The Congress of the United States is respectfully memorialized to enact HR 3286, entitled the "Adoption Promotion and Stability Act of 1996," which provides tax credits for families who are interested in adopting special needs children.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary thereof, shall be transmitted to the presiding officers of the Congress of the United States and each member of New Jersey's Congressional delegation.

STATEMENT

    This Senate Resolution memorializes Congress to enact HR 3286, concerning tax incentives to prospective adoptive families. Currently there are 500,000 children in foster care throughout the United States and only 50,000 adoptions are approved each year, some of them at exorbitant costs. HR 3286, the "Adoption Promotion and Stability Act of 1996," would provide tax credits for families who are interested in adopting special needs children, making it easier for them to adopt and helping to create a system where no child is denied access to loving parents and a healthy home.

Memorializes Congress to enact HR 3286, concerning tax incentives for prospective adoptive parents.