In Washington D.C., politicians are congratulating themselves for the eleventh-hour preservation of the adoption tax credit, presenting it as a demonstration of their commitment to supporting families and preventing children from languishing in foster care. They argue that this financial incentive enables deserving families to adopt. However, I find this perspective troubling.
The adoption tax credit fails to fulfill its intended purpose, and our legislators are not taking the necessary steps to facilitate the transition of children from foster care into stable, loving homes. Originally conceived as a bipartisan initiative to encourage the adoption of children from the foster care system, the reality is that it has not resolved the ongoing issues of children trapped in that system.
In my home state of Texas, for example, there are currently 453 children and sibling groups awaiting adoption. On a national scale, over 100,000 children are in a similar predicament. Yet, we frequently encounter the dubious claim that there are 36 couples ready to adopt for every baby put up for adoption. This stark discrepancy highlights a significant disconnect in the system.
Rather than incentivizing adoptions from foster care, the tax credit has primarily alleviated some of the financial strain associated with adopting infants, which often involves costs soaring into the tens of thousands of dollars within a coercive and emotionally charged process. While families may wait for years to adopt a newborn, countless older children remain in foster care, waiting for their chance at family life.
Although the tax credit does provide some assistance for families who adopt from the foster care system, it is insufficient. The support systems necessary for families adopting older children are virtually nonexistent. Moreover, there are no tax incentives available to pregnant individuals grappling with the difficult decision between abortion, parenting, or adoption. For these individuals, resources are alarmingly scarce, compounded by societal judgment and limited choices.
As the founder of a pro-choice adoption agency, I believe it is my duty to ensure that the pregnant women we work with are fully informed of their options — whether that be adoption, abortion, or parenting — and to help them choose the path that aligns with their well-being. This choice should bring them peace of mind.
Even more distressing is the fact that during the same discussions surrounding the adoption tax credit, lawmakers considered cutting the already limited funding aimed at helping children find adoptive homes, while simultaneously proposing financial benefits for unborn children by designating them as beneficiaries. This approach reflects a troubling disregard for the needs of children currently in the system, prioritizing fetuses over the well-being of living children.
These budget cuts are not genuinely about supporting the American populace, including women and families. Instead, they serve specific agendas. The ongoing existence of the adoption credit merely highlights the troubling trend in which lawmakers prioritize unborn children over those already in need of care and support.
While Washington debates the merits of the adoption credit, they neglect to address the pressing need for social support programs that have been systematically dismantled, leaving pregnant women without viable options or resources. They fail to provide foundational parenting support, accessible childcare, and pathways for upward mobility, while simultaneously eroding women’s reproductive rights.
Despite my role as the founder of an adoption agency, inspired by my personal experience of adopting my daughter, I cannot endorse the recent amendments to the adoption credit or the Senate’s decision to maintain it without substantive changes.
To genuinely reduce the number of children in foster care and demonstrate a commitment to the welfare of all children, lawmakers must enhance financial assistance for low-income families, raise living expenses for those considering adoption, and cease the continuous attacks on women’s reproductive rights. While the federal adoption credit remains an important tool, it is merely a fraction of the extensive support system needed for our most vulnerable pregnant women.
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In summary, the adoption tax credit, while well-intentioned, fails to address the real issues at hand. Lawmakers must broaden their focus to create a supportive environment for pregnant women and families, ensuring the well-being of both unborn and living children.