{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=40ed6acf-c95f-4e51-997a-7c0b13e023f2", "SENATORS INTRODUCE ADOPTION INFORMATION ACT", "2013-09-24", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "MS", "Thad Cochran", "C000567", "www.cochran.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) announced today the introduction of legislation to ensure family planning service projects and programs effectively promote information about adoption. The Adoption Information Act (S.1539) would require federal grant recipients to provide assurances to the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding their plan to issue adoption promotion literature.\r\nOriginal cosponsors of the Adoption Information Act include Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and John Thune (R-S.D.).  \u00a0  \u201cAdoption forever changes the lives of countless children in need of a good home and parents who feel the call to form or enrich a loving family,\u201d said Senator Fischer. \u201cUnfortunately, many individuals utilizing family planning services do not receive adequate information about this important opportunity for birth and adoptive parents. It is critical that those seeking these services are informed of all options available to them. This legislation helps make sure the option of adoption is effectively promoted.\u201d   \u00a0  \u201cThis is an important initiative that will enhance knowledge of adoption for families looking to provide a permanent and loving home for a child,\u201d said Senator Inhofe. \u201cI am proud to work with Sen. Fischer and my colleagues to ensure continued improvements are made to further promote and enhance the adoption process.\u201d\r\n\u201cActively promoting the benefits of adoption can open the doors for more children to be placed with loving families.\u00a0 This measure would instruct family planning agencies to spread the word about adoption services, and to do so within the Department of Health and Human Services budget,\u201d Senator Cochran said.\r\n\u201cOne way we can continue to promote a culture of life is to help every child find a good home to live in and a loving family to share their lives with,\u201d said Senator Enzi. \u201cI thank Senator Fischer for her leadership on this issue and for promoting adoption as a viable option for many families and individuals across the country.\u201d\r\n\u201cProviding women with greater access to adoption information embraces life and ought to be included in any family planning discussion,\u201d said Senator Johanns. \u201cAdoption is a worthy, loving option with life-changing impacts.\u00a0 I strongly support this measure that discourages abortion and supports life.\u201d\r\n\u201cEvery child deserves the opportunity to be part of a permanent and loving family,\u201d Senator Moran said. \u201cIndividuals using federal family planning programs should be educated about adoption to ensure they\u2019re making a fully informed decision. The Adoption Information Act makes certain adoption is promoted as a viable option.\u201d\r\n\u201cKnowing and understanding the available options is critical to ensuring birth parents and adoptive parents have the information they need,\u201d said Senator Thune. \u201cMore can be done to make information available to those seeking services and to ensure that each family makes an informed decision. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to move this legislation through Congress.\u201d\r\nSpecifically, the legislation would require family service project or program grant recipients to:  \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Provide each person served by the project or program a pamphlet containing a list of all the adoption centers in the state, along with contact information, at the time that person inquires about family planning services;  \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Verbally inform each person that the pamphlet was provided by HHS and contains a list of adoption centers located in the state; and  \u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Provide clients with an opportunity to read the pamphlet.  \u00a0  Under this bill, HHS is required to prepare, distribute, and update annually the pamphlets provided to individuals and families. Additionally, the bill makes clear HHS can only use previously appropriated funds to carry out these requirements.\r\nIn 2007, there were just 18,078 infant adoptions in the United States, a rate of 4.2 domestic infant adoptions per 1,000 live births, according to the National Council for Adoption.   \u00a0  Last month, Congressman Robert Wittman (R-Va.) introduced similar legislation (HR.3062), which is awaiting action in the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. Wittman applauded the introduction of Fischer\u2019s bill and released the following statement:  \u00a0  \u201cI was adopted as an infant, so I understand how important it is for birth mothers to be aware that adoption is an option and have access to the tools to locate and contact their local adoption agencies, which is why I was proud to introduce the Adoption Information Act in the House of Representatives. I also recognize that domestic adoptions are more important now than ever as countries like Russia are closing their doors to American adoptions. There are many safe and loving American families that yearn to give a child a permanent home.\u201d  \u00a0  The Adoption Information Act is supported by the National Council for Adoption, Nebraska Children\u2019s Home Society, and Nebraska Foster and Adoptive Parents Association.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cochran.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ContentRecord_id=40ed6acf-c95f-4e51-997a-7c0b13e023f2"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8039940148591995, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}