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Mary Kate Grant Subject Files
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Collection/Office of Origin: Speechwriting, White House Office of
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Grant, Mary Kate, Files
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Subject File, 1988-1991
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Adopted Children Event, 1/25/90
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19
2
7
2
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
January 25, 1990
For Immediate Release
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTED CHILDREN
The East Room
2:39 P.M. EST
RICHARD MIDDLETON: Good evening, boys and girls, and
mothers and fathers. My name is Richard Middleton. I'm 11 years
old. I adopted my father -- (laughter) -- at least a year ago. I
love father. And I'm very glad that the President and Mrs. Bush
are helping my more children like me to find parents to love. That's and
why it's such a great honor for me to introduce to you, boys
girls, moms and dads, the President of the United States.
(Applause.)
THE PRESIDENT: Richard, good job. (Applause.)
Well, good afternoon. And thank you, Richard, a
wonderful introduction. You only had to use your cards for one
sentence and I have to use it for the whole speech here, see.
(Laughter.) But you did a great job.
And to Secretary Sullivan, thank you, sir. It's always a
pleasure to be with you. And thank you, everyone, for traveling here
today -- especially the Orsi family, who drove all the way from
Connecticut with their 21 children -- 19 of whom are adopted. And
I'm glad all of you could join me here in the White House. You know,
in fact, this has got to be the most unique event ever held in the
White House I think. It's like a fish pond, moving around. It's
very good. And I'm glad to have you all here.
You know, this time last year, when Barbara and I became
the official caretakers of the White House for four years, the first
thing we did was invite all of our children and our grandchildren to
spend our first night here "together" upstairs as a family.
And my family is very, very important to me and I feel
lucky to have been blessed with a wonderful wife and children and, of
course, now 12 granchildren. But all of you here today are just as
lucky because you, too, are part of a family of your own -- to grow
with you, share with you and, most of all, to love you.
Each of your moms and dads know just how special you are
when they picked you out to go home with them. And now you've got
some of the greatest parents around. And they have so much love to
give you and they feel the warmth and joy of your own love in return.
The kids who are still waiting to be adopted don't have
who have spent their lives helping children just like you find
parents yet, but they're not alone. They have many friends -- people
families -- just like you all helping them find families of their
own.
Let me tell you about some of them here with us today.
First, there are business leaders -- corporate leaders who have
committed to helping children like you find loving homes. For
example, how many of you watch cartoons? Quite a few. Do you know
the Jetsons? or the Flintstones? or Yogi Bear? Well, the people
who work at Hanna Barberra created those cartoons. And now they're
creating a new character who will encourage families to adopt
MORE
- 2 -
children.
And some of you may be aware of a TV program in which
children who want to be adopted go on television in cities across
America -- it's called "Wednesday's Child." And it is very
successful. Almost three-quarters of all the kids who appear on this
show find families. And so NBC network is going to work with us to
get more kids on TV and more stations to show "Wednesday's Child" so
more families will see these children.
There's a man here today who is very committed to helping
other children just like you. He's a friend of mine for a long time,
and his name is Dave Thomas, and he was an adopted child. And he
grew up to be a successful businessman with a family of his own. Now
he's the head of Wendy's Hamburgers -- and by the way, he really does
have his own daughter named Wendy. Now, where is Dave? He was --
here he is, right over here. And he's going to make information
available to help put loving parents together with special needs
children in Wendy's all across the country.
And now I'd like to tell you about another man whom I've
just met -- and what an inspiring man he is. Taurean Blacque is a
noted actor with an impressive list of credits. But he deserves even
more credit for what he does in real life. He has adopted 10 special
needs children, 10 children.
You know, single people and older Americans can be great
adoptive parents. And Taurean's not married. He says that having 10
kids will probably keep him too busy to get married for a long time.
(Laughter.) I don't know if he qualifies as an older American yet --
(laughter) -- but I hear that his hair started going gray the minute
he got all these kids. (Laughter.) But he says he wouldn't change
it for the world. He proves that love is something you do every day;
love is something that takes hard work and commitment -- because he
had to fight to get every one of those children.
Taurean asked me to do a head count and make sure nobody
got left behind in the Green Room. Are all 10 of you here?
(Laughter.) Okay, I can't take a count here; I'm too busy here.
(Laughter.) No, all 10 are, I'm sure. And you've got a very special
dad.
You know, people like Taurean, who open up not just their
homes, but their hearts are amazing people. And I know that we have
a number of adoptive parents among us today as well. And you're a
breed apart because while so many people shout about how to make the
world a better place, you quietly lead by example, changing the world
in a very special way -- one child at a time. Truly, yours is a gift
of limitless love.
This guy's got to go real bad here. (Laughter.) That's
okay, we're used to that around here. That's okay, big guy.
Okay, where were we? (Laughter.) No, but seriously, not
all children are as lucky as the ones here today. There are
thousands of kids in America who still need a home and a family to
care about them. This year, an estimated 30,000 children available
for adoption spent their Christmas holidays waiting for a permanent
home. And most of these kids -- about 60 percent -- are special
needs children. To find families for these kids, our administration
has sent to Congress our Special Needs Adoptive Assistance Act to
help individuals meet the financial commitment involved in adopting
special needs children. We've also taken steps to encourage federal
employees wanting to give loving home to these children, who often
wait for years to be adopted.
Every children in America deserves a loving home and a
family, and they deserve something else -- the chance to succeed in
school and in life. Government cannot substitute for a supportive
home. But some children do need extra help to prepare them for the
challenge of learning.
MORE
- 3 -
At the education summit, the governors and I agreed that
through the Head Start program we are making real progress towards
preparing disadvantaged children for school. And I am pleased to
announce that my 1991 budget will propose the largest increase ever
-- half a billion additional dollars for Head Start. This new
funding will increase the Head Start enrollment to 667,000 children,
and bring us to the point where we can reach 70 percent of this
nation's disadvantaged four-year-olds through Head Start. I urge the
Congress to fund our Head Start proposal in full, because every
American child with special needs, whether physical, emotional, or
material, deserves the opportunity for a full and happy life.
Our children are precious. And you're the reason all of
us came together here today -- to tell you how special you are to us
and how glad we are that you are in the family. You know, our son
Marvin and his wife Margaret just adopted their second child, a
little grandson, our grandson, Walker. And if I do say so myself --
this guy is really something. And so is his sister, Marshall, who's
also adopted. And they're an important part of our family, and we
love them.
Through my wonderful experiences with adoption in the
Bush family, I've learned something. I've learned this: Adoption is
good for our country, and for the children who need a loving home,
and for the birth parents who want the best for their children. And
for the adoptive parents, by giving them the joy of raising and
loving a child.
See the sign behind me -- "Adoption Works -- for
Everyone." And that is true. Adoption works because each one of you
is so special. And because you adopted very special parents. And it
works because everyone in this room loves you very much.
From my family to yours, Barbara and I say thank you and
God bless you.
And now, Barbara I understand we're going to invite this
whole gang into the State Dining Room for cookies and lemonade. So
why don't we go on in there -- and thank you all for coming to the
White House. Glad to have you. (Applause.)
END
2:49 P.M. EST
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
UNTIL 2:30 P.M. EST
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1990
TEXT OF REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN CEREMONY
The East Room
January 26, 1990
You know, this time last year, when Barbara and I became the
official caretakers of the White House for four years, the first
thing we did was invite all our children and grandchildren to
spend our first night here "together" as a family.
My family is very, very important to me and I feel lucky to have
been blessed with a wonderful wife and children, and, of course,
now 12 grandchildren. But all of you here today are just as
lucky because now you, too, are part of a family of your own --
to grow with you, share with you and most of all to love you.
Each of your moms and dads knew just how special you are when
they picked you out to go home with them. And now you've got
some of the greatest parents around. They have so much love to
give you and they feel the warmth and joy of your love in return.
The kids who are still waiting to be adopted don't have parents
yet, but they are not alone. They have many friends -- people
who have spent their lives helping children just like you find
families of their own. Let me tell you about some of them here
with us today.
First, there are corporate leaders who have committed to helping
children like you find loving homes. For example, how many of
you watch cartoons? Do you know the Jetsons? Or the
Flintstones? Or Yogi Bear? Well, the people who work at Hanna
Barberra created those cartoons. And now they're creating a new
character who will encourage families to adopt children.
And some of you may be aware of a TV program in which children
who want to be adopted go on television in cities across America
-- it's called "Wednesday's Child." And it's very successful.
Almost three-quarters of all the kids who appear on this show
find families. And so NBC network is going to work with us to
get more kids on TV and more stations to show "Wednesday's Child"
so more families will see these children.
There's a man here today who is very committed to helping other
children just like you. His name is Dave Thomas, and he was an
adopted child. He grew up to be a successful businessman with a
family of his own. Now he's the head of Wendy's Hamburgers -- by
the way, he really does have a daughter named Wendy -- and he's
going to make information available to help put loving parents
together with special needs children in Wendy's all across the
country.
And now I'd like to tell you about another man whom I just met,
and what an inspiring man he is. Taurean Blacque is a noted
actor with an impressive list of credits. But he deserves even
more credit for what he does in real life: He has adopted ten
special needs children -- ten children.
- more -
- 2 -
You know, single people and older Americans can be great adoptive
parents, and Taurean's not married. He says that having ten kids
will probably keep him too busy to get married for a long time.
And I don't know if he qualifies as an older American yet, but I
heard his hair started going gray the minute he got all these
kids.
But Taurean says he wouldn't change it for the world. He proves
that love is something you do every day. Love is something that
takes hard work and commitment, because he had to fight to get
every one of those children. Taurean asked me to do a headcount
and make sure nobody got left behind in the Green Room. Are all
ten of you here? You've got a very special dad.
People like Taurean who open not just their homes but their
hearts are amazing people. And I know that we have a number of
adoptive parents among us today as well. You are a breed apart,
because while so many people shout about how to make the world a
better place, you quietly lead by example, changing the world in
a special way, one child at a time. Truly, yours is a gift of
limitless love.
But not all children are as lucky as the ones here today. Sadly,
there are thousands of children in America who still need a home
and a family to care about them. This year, an estimated 30,000
children, available for adoption, spent their Christmas holidays
waiting for a permanent home. Most of these kids -- about 60
percent are special needs children.
To help find families for these kids, our Administration has sent
to Congress the Special Needs Adoption Assistance Act to help
individuals meet the financial commitment involved in adopting
special needs children. We've also taken steps to encourage
Federal employees wanting to give loving homes to these children,
who often wait for years to be adopted.
Every child in America deserves a loving home and family. And
they deserve something else -- the chance to succeed in school
and in life. Government cannot substitute for a supportive home,
but some children do need extra help to prepare them for the
challenge of learning. At the Education Summit, the Governors
and I agreed that through the Head Start program wè are making
real progress towards preparing disadvantaged children for
school.
I am pleased to announce that my 1991 budget will propose the
largest increase ever -- half a billion additional dollars -- for
Head Start. This new funding will increase Head Start enrollment
to 667,000 children and bring us to the point where we can reach
seventy percent of this Nation's disadvantaged four-year-olds
through Head Start.
I urge the Congress to fund our Head Start proposal in full,
because every American child with special needs -- whether
physical, emotional, or material, deserves the opportunity for a
full and happy life.
Our children are precious. You're the reason all of us came
together today - to tell you how special you are to us, and how
glad we are that you are in the family. You know, my son Marvin
and his wife Margaret just adopted their second child, our
grandson, Walker. And if I do say so myself he's really
something. And so is his sister Marshall, who is also adopted.
They're an important part of our family, and we love them very
much.
- more -
- 3 -
Through my wonderful experiences with adoption in the Bush
family, I've learned this: Adoption is good for America, for the
children who need a loving home, for the birth parents who want
the best for their children, and for the adoptive parents by
giving them the joy of raising and loving a child. See the sign
behind me? "Adoption Works -- for Everyone." It's true.
Adoption works because each one of you is so special and because
you adopted very special parents. And it works because everyone
in this room loves you very much.
# # #
SPECIAL.CRD
SPECIAL NEEDS ADOPTED CHILDREN / THE EAST ROOM
JANUARY 26, 1990
GOOD AFTERNOON. THANK YOU, RICHARD, FOR THAT
GREAT INTRODUCTION. SECRETARY SULLIVAN, IT'S ALWAYS
A PLEASURE To SEE YOU. AND THANK YOU, EVERYONE, FOR
TRAVELING HERE TODAY -- ESPECIALLY THE ORSI FAMILY,
WHO DROVE ALL THE WAY FROM CONNECTICUT WITH THEIR 21
CHILDREN -- 19 OF WHOM ARE ADOPTED. I'M GLAD ALL OF
YOU COULD JOIN ME HERE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
You KNOW, THIS TIME LAST YEAR, WHEN BARBARA AND
I BECAME THE OFFICIAL CARETAKERS OF THE WHITE HOUSE
FOR FOUR YEARS, THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS INVITE
ALL OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN TO SPEND OUR
FIRST NIGHT HERE "TOGETHER" AS A FAMILY.
MY FAMILY IS VERY, VERY IMPORTANT To ME AND I
FEEL LUCKY TO HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL
WIFE AND CHILDREN, AND, OF COURSE, NOW 12
GRANDCHILDREN. BUT ALL OF YOU HERE TODAY ARE JUST
AS LUCKY BECAUSE NOW YOU, Too, ARE PART OF A FAMILY
OF YOUR OWN -- To GROW WITH YOU, SHARE WITH YOU AND
MOST OF ALL ... TO LOVE YOU.
EACH OF YOUR MOMS AND DADS KNEW JUST HOW SPECIAL
YOU ARE WHEN THEY PICKED YOU OUT TO GO HOME WITH
THEM. AND NOW YOU'VE GOT SOME OF THE GREATEST
PARENTS AROUND. THEY HAVE so MUCH LOVE TO GIVE YOU
AND THEY FEEL THE WARMTH AND JOY OF YOUR LOVE IN
RETURN.
THE KIDS WHO ARE STILL WAITING TO BE ADOPTED
DON'T HAVE PARENTS YET, BUT THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
THEY HAVE MANY FRIENDS -- PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPENT
THEIR LIVES HELPING CHILDREN JUST LIKE YOU FIND
FAMILIES OF THEIR OWN. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT SOME
OF THEM HERE WITH US TODAY.
FIRST, THERE ARE CORPORATE LEADERS WHO HAVE
COMMITTED TO HELPING CHILDREN LIKE YOU FIND LOVING
HOMES. FOR EXAMPLE, HOW MANY OF YOU WATCH CARTOONS?
Do YOU KNOW THE JETSONS? OR THE FLINTSTONES? OR
Yogi BEAR? WELL, THE PEOPLE WHO WORK AT HANNA
BARBERRA CREATED THOSE CARTOONS. AND NOW THEY'RE
CREATING A NEW CHARACTER WHO WILL ENCOURAGE FAMILIES
To ADOPT CHILDREN.
AND SOME OF YOU MAY BE AWARE OF A TV PROGRAM IN
WHICH CHILDREN WHO WANT TO BE ADOPTED GO ON
TELEVISION IN CITIES ACROSS AMERICA -- IT'S CALLED
"WEDNESDAY'S CHILD." AND IT'S VERY SUCCESSFUL.
ALMOST THREE-QUARTERS OF ALL THE KIDS WHO APPEAR ON
THIS SHOW FIND FAMILIES. AND SO NBC NETWORK IS
GOING To WORK WITH US TO GET MORE KIDS ON TV AND
MORE STATIONS TO SHOW "WEDNESDAY'S CHILD" so MORE
FAMILIES WILL SEE THESE CHILDREN.
THERE'S A MAN HERE TODAY WHO IS VERY COMMITTED
TO HELPING OTHER CHILDREN JUST LIKE YOU. HIS NAME
IS DAVE THOMAS, AND HE WAS AN ADOPTED CHILD. HE
GREW UP TO BE A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSMAN WITH A FAMILY
OF HIS OWN. Now HE'S THE HEAD OF WENDY'S HAMBURGERS
-- BY THE WAY, HE REALLY DOES HAVE A DAUGHTER NAMED
WENDY -- AND HE'S GOING TO MAKE INFORMATION
AVAILABLE To HELP PUT LOVING PARENTS TOGETHER WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN WENDY'S ALL ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
AND NOW I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT ANOTHER MAN
WHOM I JUST MET, AND WHAT AN INSPIRING MAN HE IS.
TAUREAN BLACQUE [TORY-EN BLACK] IS A NOTED ACTOR
WITH AN IMPRESSIVE LIST OF CREDITS. BUT HE DESERVES
EVEN MORE CREDIT FOR WHAT HE DOES IN REAL LIFE: HE
HAS ADOPTED TEN SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN -- TEN
CHILDREN. You KNOW, SINGLE PEOPLE AND OLDER
AMERICANS CAN BE GREAT ADOPTIVE PARENTS, AND
TAUREAN'S NOT MARRIED. HE SAYS THAT HAVING TEN KIDS
WILL PROBABLY KEEP HIM TOO BUSY TO GET MARRIED FOR A
LONG TIME. AND I DON'T KNOW IF HE QUALIFIES AS AN
OLDER AMERICAN YET, BUT I HEARD HIS HAIR STARTED
GOING GRAY THE MINUTE HE GOT ALL THESE KIDS.
BUT TAUREAN SAYS HE WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR THE
WORLD. HE PROVES THAT LOVE IS SOMETHING YOU DO
EVERY DAY. LOVE IS SOMETHING THAT TAKES HARD WORK
AND COMMITMENT, BECAUSE HE HAD TO FIGHT TO GET EVERY
ONE OF THOSE CHILDREN. TAUREAN ASKED ME TO DO A
HEADCOUNT AND MAKE SURE NOBODY GOT LEFT BEHIND IN
THE GREEN ROOM. ARE ALL TEN OF YOU HERE? YOU'VE
GOT A VERY SPECIAL DAD.
PEOPLE LIKE TAUREAN WHO OPEN NOT JUST THEIR
HOMES BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE AMAZING PEOPLE. AND I
KNOW THAT WE HAVE A NUMBER OF ADOPTIVE PARENTS AMONG
US TODAY AS WELL. You ARE A BREED APART, BECAUSE
WHILE so MANY PEOPLE SHOUT ABOUT HOW To MAKE THE
WORLD A BETTER PLACE, YOU QUIETLY LEAD BY EXAMPLE,
CHANGING THE WORLD IN A SPECIAL WAY, ONE CHILD AT A
TIME. TRULY, YOURS IS A GIFT OF LIMITLESS LOVE.
BUT NOT ALL CHILDREN ARE AS LUCKY AS THE ONES
HERE TODAY. SADLY, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN
IN AMERICA WHO STILL NEED A HOME AND A FAMILY To
CARE ABOUT THEM. THIS YEAR, AN ESTIMATED 30,000
CHILDREN, AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION, SPENT THEIR
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS WAITING FOR A PERMANENT HOME.
MOST OF THESE KIDS -- ABOUT 60 PERCENT -- ARE
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN.
our
To HELP FIND FAMILIES FOR THESE KIDS, THIS
ADMINISTRATION HAS SENT TO CONGRESS THE SPECIAL
NEEDS ADOPTION ASSISTANCE AcT TO HELP INDIVIDUALS
MEET THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENT INVOLVED IN ADOPTING
SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. WE'VE ALSO TAKEN STEPS TO
ENCOURAGE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES WANTING TO GIVE LOVING
HOMES To THESE CHILDREN, WHO OFTEN WAIT FOR YEARS TO
BE ADOPTED.
EVERY CHILD IN AMERICA DESERVES A LOVING HOME
AND FAMILY. AND THEY DESERVE SOMETHING ELSE -- THE
government cannot substitute
CHANCE To do SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE. SOME for a supportive
home, /HE but
CHILDREN NEED EXTRA HELP TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE
CHALLENGE OF LEARNING. AT THE EDUCATION SUMMIT, THE
GOVERNORS AND I AGREED THAT THROUGH THE HEAD START
PROGRAM WE ARE MAKING REAL PROGRESS TOWARDS
PREPARING DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL.
I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MY 1991 BUDGET
WILL PROPOSE THE LARGEST INCREASE EVER -- HALF A
BILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS -- FOR HEAD START. THIS
NEW FUNDING WILL INCREASE HEAD START ENROLLMENT To
Children
can
668,000 AND BRING US TO THE POINT WHERE WE WILL
reach
this mations
ENROLL SEVENTY PERCENT OF DISADVANTAGED FOUR-YEAR -
OLDS though IN HEAD START.
I URGE THE CONGRESS To FUND OUR HEAD START
PROPOSAL IN FULL, BECAUSE EVERY AMERICAN CHILD WITH
SPECIAL NEEDS -- WHETHER PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL, OR
for a full and happy
MATERIAL, DESERVES THE OPPORTUNITY WE SEEK TO
life
CREATE.
OUR CHILDREN ARE PRECIOUS. YOU'RE THE REASON
ALL OF US CAME TOGETHER TODAY -- TO TELL YOU HOW
SPECIAL YOU ARE TO US, AND HOW GLAD WE ARE THAT YOU
ARE IN THE FAMILY. You KNOW, MY SON MARVIN AND HIS
WIFE MARGARET JUST ADOPTED THEIR SECOND CHILD, OUR
GRANDSON, WALKER. AND IF I DO SAY so MYSELF -- HE'S
REALLY SOMETHING. AND so IS HIS SISTER MARSHALL,
WHO IS ALSO ADOPTED. THEY'RE AN IMPORTANT PART OF
OUR FAMILY, AND WE LOVE THEM VERY MUCH.
THROUGH MY WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES WITH ADOPTION
IN THE BUSH FAMILY, I'VE LEARNED THIS: ADOPTION IS
GOOD FOR AMERICA. FOR THE CHILDREN WHO NEED A
LOVING HOME. FOR THE BIRTH PARENTS WHO WANT THE
BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN. AND FOR THE ADOPTIVE
PARENTS BY GIVING THEM THE JOY OF RAISING AND LOVING
A CHILD. SEE THE SIGN BEHIND ME? "ADOPTION WORKS -
- FOR EVERYONE." IT'S TRUE.
ADOPTION WORKS BECAUSE EACH ONE OF YOU IS SO
SPECIAL
...
AND BECAUSE YOU ADOPTED VERY SPECIAL
PARENTS. AND IT WORKS BECAUSE EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM
LOVES YOU VERY MUCH.
FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS, THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS
YOU. GOD BLESS AMERICA.
[ AND NOW, BARBARA AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE
EVERYONE TO THE STATE DINING ROOM FOR COOKIES AND
LEMONADE. ]
# # #
SENT. BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 1-26-90 12:09PM ;
4562983-
2024566218;# 1
INSERT ON HEAD START.
by
JC be 11 call
you substation w/any
Insert on page 3, after first full paragraph (following "Truly, charge
yours is a gift with love.
Erom
8-MB
There is another issue which involves parents that is
AS
important to me. At the Education Summit Conference last
September the Governors stressed, and I agree with, the need for
all children to start school ready to learn.
Parents are the most important influence on their children's
Some children need extra help to PLEPAR them for the
ability to begin learning when they enter school. Children who
challenge of laoning
are disadvantaged may need extra help. They are at special risk
At the Ed Summit,
of being behind when they start school The Governors and I
agree that through the Head Start program we are making real
progress towards assisting preparing disadvantaged children to-become
prepared for school. I am pleased to announce that my 1991
budget will propose the largest increase ever -- half a billion
additional dollars -- for Head Start. This new funding will
enable Head Start enrollment to go up to 668,000 and bring us to
the point where we will enroll 70% of poor four year olds in Head
Start. With the cooperation of other programs that help prepare
children for school, we will be within reach of our goal of
offering all disadvantaged children a head start before they
start school
Congress did not give us all we asked for last year for Head
Start, but this year I am hopeful the Congress will agree with
the wisdom of our proposal. I wish every member of Congress
SENT BY:Xerox Telecopier 7020 ; 1-26-90 :12:09PM ;
4562983-
2024566218:# 2
could be here today to see how loving parents who struggle for
their children can create opportunities for success in school and
in life. Every American child with special needs -- whether
physical, emotional, or material -- deserves the opportunity we
seek to create.
HHS
INSERT ON HEAD START.
Insert on page 3, after first full paragraph (following "Truly,
yours is a gift with love. )
There another issue which involves parents that is
important to me'. At the Education Summit Conference last advantages of
that is is the need to prov ide all income - eligible children w/the
at least one year of Head
September the Governors stressed, and I agreed with the need for Start.
ver gowl Porter
all children to start school ready to learn.
Parents are the most important influence on their children's
54ab
#5
ability to begin learning when they enter school. Children who
say
OMB
are disadvantaged may need extra help. They are at special risk
of being behind when they start school. The Governors and I
agree that through the Head Start program we are making real
6.
progress towards assisting disadvantaged children to become
tobpna paur extrais may
prepared for school. I am pleased to announce that my 1991
budget will propose the largest increase ever -- half a billion
additional dollars -- for Head Start. This new funding will
663,000
C enable Head Start enrollment to go up to 668,000 and bring us to
the point where we will enroll 70% of poor four year olds in Head
602
Start. With the cooperation of other programs that help prepare
children for school, we will be within reach of experience our goal of
offering all disadvantaged children a head start before they
start school.
Congress did not give us all we asked for last year for Head
Start, but this year I am hopeful the Congress will agree with
the wisdom of our proposal. I wish every member of Congress
OMB
INSERT ON HEAD START.
Insert on page 3, after first full paragraph (following "Truly,
1990 JAN 26
yours is a gift with love.
PM
critical of children
03
There is another issue which involves parents that is
important to me. At the Education Summit Conference last
September the Governors stressed, and I agree with, the need for
all children to start school ready to learn.
Ann
Parents are the most important influence on No their children ment or/oride
ability to begin learning when they enter begin school. can bel
Children who
agrees
can
are disadvantaged may need extra help. They can are at special risk
substitute
of starting being behind when they enter start school. The Governors and I
frå
agree that through the Head Start program we are making real
progress towards assisting disadvantaged children to become
supportibe line life
prepare for school. I am pleased to announce that my 1991
However,
budget will propose the largest increase ever -- half a billion
additional dollars -- for Head Start. This new funding will
enable Head Start enrollment to go up to 668,000 and bring us to
the point where we will can enroll 70% of poor four year olds in Head
Start. With the cooperation of other programs that help prepare
children for school, we will be within reach of our goal of
offering all disadvantaged children a head start before they
start school.
Congress did not give us all we asked for last year for Head
Start, but this year I am hopeful the Congress will agree with
the wisdom of our proposal. I wish every member of Congress
blond
St
10/09/67
280-20-1322
A
Central to the President's program is a very large new
resource commitment -- $500 million additional dollars in FY
1991 -- 36% more than FY 1990. This will allow up to 180,000
additional children to enroll in Head Start. With the
cooperation of state early childhood programs, additional
state-financed Head Start enrollment will make the Head Start
experience available to all eligible children in many states.
Background on Head Start
Head Start is a comprehensive child development program
serving pre-school low-income children, usually in the year
just before entering public school. The program emphasizes
parental involvement and control of the program's direction.
It operates through a network of local grantees that include
governments. local non-profit organizations, school districts, and local
From its inception in 1965, twenty five years ago, Head
Start has emphasized comprehensive, developmentally
appropriate services and programs. Children enrolled in Head
Start receive immunizations, medical care, dental care, and
speech, hearing, and psychological screening. Each program
also provides each enrollee with at least one meal. Head
Start programs emphasize the acquisition of social and
behavioral skills necessary to success in school.
Elements of the President's Head Start Program
O
Funding is proposed to increase from $1,386 million in
FY 90 to $1,886 million in FY 91. Enrollment would rise
from 450,000 this year to 667,000, providing 70% of the
estimated number of children in the Head Start target
group school. with a year of Head Start before they start
-2-
Head Start will coordinate its additional funds with
state-funded child development programs. 25 states and
the District of Columbia provided $225 million for child
development programs in 1988. Where a state provides
funds to a Head Start grantee, additional federal
dollars will flow to the Head Start grantee proportional
to the state's contribution.
O
Head Start will fund Head Start advocates to work in
state governments to improve the transition from Head
Start to the schools. This activity will begin with ten
states in 1990.
-
While Head Start graduates enter school with a
higher level of school readiness than low-income
children who had no Head Start experience, these
gains are often lost in the early school years.
These staff will work with states to make reforms
to keep these children from losing ground gained in
Head Start.
Head Start will seek to build working relationships with
other programs that emphasize parental involvement. The
first partnership will be with Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts
of the U.S.A. will seek to sign up Head Start graduates
as Daisy scouts and their mothers as group leaders.
Through a new program, Family Service Centers, Head
Start will expand its contact with the most troubled of
the families with children in Head Start.
-
The Family Service Centers will focus on Head Start
families whose members use illegal drugs. In some
Head Start centers more than half the children live
in such families. The Family Service Center will
seek to use the positive relationship with the
family built by the Head Start program to bring
substance abusing family members into treatment.
-
The Family Service Centers will also seek to make
Head Start families families of readers. Research
results show that children who are read to at home
and have access to books are more likely to succeed
in school than those who do not.
o
Head Start will seek to increase the role of volunteers
in the program. This activity will emphasize volunteer
services by psychologists, psychiatrists, speech and
language therapists, and other professionals whose
children. services will benefit the school readiness of Head Start
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE
UNTIL 2:30 P.M. EST
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1990
TEXT OF REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
AT CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN CEREMONY
The East Room
January 26, 1990
You know, this time last year, when Barbara and I became the
official caretakers of the White House for four years, the first
thing we did was invite all our children and grandchildren to
spend our first night here "together" as a family.
My family is very, very important to me and I feel lucky to have
been blessed with a wonderful wife and children, and, of course,
now 12 grandchildren. But all of you here today are just as
lucky because now you, too, are part of a family of your own --
to grow with you, share with you and most of all to love you.
Each of your moms and dads knew just how special you are when
they picked you out to go home with them. And now you've got
some of the greatest parents around. They have so much love to
give you and they feel the warmth and joy of your love in return.
The kids who are still waiting to be adopted don't have parents
yet, but they are not alone. They have many friends -- people
who have spent their lives helping children just like you find
families of their own. Let me tell you about some of them here
with us today.
First, there are corporate leaders who have committed to helping
children like you find loving homes. For example, how many of
you watch cartoons? Do you know the Jetsons? Or the
Flintstones? or Yogi Bear? Well, the people who work at Hanna
Barberra created those cartoons. And now they're creating a new
character who will encourage families to adopt children.
And some of you may be aware of a TV program in which children
who want to be adopted go on television in cities across America
-- it's called "Wednesday's Child." And it's very successful.
Almost three-quarters of all the kids who appear on this show
find families. And so NBC network is going to work with us to
get more kids on TV and more stations to show "Wednesday's Child"
so more families will see these children.
There's a man here today who is very committed to helping other
children just like you. His name is Dave Thomas, and he was an
adopted child. He grew up to be a successful businessman with a
family of his own. Now he's the head of Wendy's Hamburgers -- by
the way, he really does have a daughter named Wendy -- and he's
going to make information available to help put loving parents
together with special needs children in Wendy's all across the
country.
And now I'd like to tell you about another man whom I just met,
and what an inspiring man he is. Taurean Blacque is a noted
actor with an impressive list of credits. But he deserves even
more credit for what he does in real life: He has adopted ten
special needs children -- ten children.
- more -
- 2 -
You know, single people and older Americans can be great adoptive
parents, and Taurean's not married. He says that having ten kids
will probably keep him too busy to get married for a long time.
And I don't know if he qualifies as an older American yet, but I
heard his hair started going gray the minute he got all these
kids.
But Taurean says he wouldn't change it for the world. He proves
that love is something you do every day. Love is something that
takes hard work and commitment, because he had to fight to get
every one of those children. Taurean asked me to do a headcount
and make sure nobody got left behind in the Green Room. Are all
ten of you here? You've got a very special dad.
People like Taurean who open not just their homes but their
hearts are amazing people. And I know that we have a number of
adoptive parents among us today as well. You are a breed apart,
because while so many people shout about how to make the world a
better place, you quietly lead by example, changing the world in
a special way, one child at a time. Truly, yours is a gift of
limitless love.
But not all children are as lucky as the ones here today. Sadly,
there are thousands of children in America who still need a home
and a family to care about them. This year, an estimated 30,000
children, available for adoption, spent their Christmas holidays
waiting for a permanent home. Most of these kids -- about 60
percent -- are special needs children.
To help find families for these kids, our Administration has sent
to Congress the Special Needs Adoption Assistance Act to help
individuals meet the financial commitment involved in adopting
special needs children. We've also taken steps to encourage
Federal employees wanting to give loving homes to these children,
who often wait for years to be adopted.
Every child in America deserves a loving home and family. And
they deserve something else -- the chance to succeed in school
and in life. Government cannot substitute for a supportive home,
but some children do need extra help to prepare them for the
challenge of learning. At the Education Summit, the Governors
and I agreed that through the Head Start program we are making
real progress towards preparing disadvantaged children for
school.
I am pleased to announce that my 1991 budget will propose the
largest increase ever half a billion additional dollars -- for
Head Start. This new funding will increase Head Start enrollment
to 667,000 children and bring us to the point where we can reach
seventy percent of this Nation's disadvantaged four-year-olds
through Head Start.
I urge the Congress to fund our Head Start proposal in full,
because every American child with special needs -- whether
physical, emotional, or material, deserves the opportunity for a
full and happy life.
Our children are precious. You're the reason all of us came
together today to tell you how special you are to us, and how
glad we are that you are in the family. You know, my son Marvin
and his wife Margaret just adopted their second child, our
grandson, Walker. And if I do say so myself -- he's really
something. And so is his sister Marshall, who is also adopted.
They're an important part of our family, and we love them very
much.
- more -
- 3 -
Through my wonderful experiences with adoption in the Bush
family, I've learned this: Adoption is good for America, for the
children who need a loving home, for the birth parents who want
the best for their children, and for the adoptive parents by
giving them the joy of raising and loving a child. See the sign
behind me? "Adoption Works -- for Everyone." It's true.
Adoption works because each one of you is so special and because
you adopted very special parents. And it works because everyone
in this room loves you very much.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
July 24, 1989
July 24, 1989
MEMORANDUM FOR HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES
SUBJECT:
Administration Support for the Adoption Option
The foundation of our nation is the American family,
protector of our most valuable yet vulnerable resource -- our
children. Sadly, thousands of American children do not have a
family to call their own. They are children who may have been
abandoned, neglected or abused, who have seen their childhood
unfairly snatched away. We can give them back their child-
hood, simply by finding them a permanent adoptive family.
This, commitment. I believe, is an effort worthy of our greatest
Everyone wins in adoption. It is time for the leaders of
the Federal workforce to ensure that our government is
pro-adoption. Adoption works -- for children who need homes,
for people hoping to become parents, and for women facing a
crisis pregnancy.
As the leaders of the Federal civilian and military labor
force, we have the opportunity to positively affect the lives
of Federal employees and to provide leadership for our entire
nation. I am directing you and your staff to consider ways to
provide such leadership to advance the adoption alternative.
Adoption can help to address some of our most pressing issues:
teenage pregnancy, foster care, infertility, and welfare
dependency. Most importantly, adoption provides a home and
love to children who may have neither.
Consider just a few facts:
An estimated 15 percent of American couples of
reproductive age are infertile.
About 60,000 children are adopted every year in this
country. of these, 10,000 come from foreign countries.
Right now, nearly 30,000 American children are legally
available for adoption. Some of them are school-age,
some are physically or emotionally handicapped, some are
members of sibling groups that need to be placed in the
same home, and some are minority children.
Each year nearly 25,000 American babies are given life
and the chance to be loved when their mothers choose
adoption over abortion or unwanted parenthood, yet the
opportunity to consider adoption is often denied to
pregnant women. I am told that as much as 40 percent of
pregnancy counseling does not even mention adoption.
more
(OVER)
2
I have instructed my Domestic Policy Council to develop a
Presidential adoption initiative, and that process is well
under way. To complement this effort, I am asking you to
develop methods for supporting the adoption plans and needs
of your employees and for promoting adoption among your
workforce. Here are just a few ideas:
O
Use agency resources for employees who are considering
adopting, who have adopted children, or who have a family
member facing a crisis pregnancy. Employee Assistance
Programs (EAPs) may be the most appropriate resource.
Begin planning now for agency-wide celebration and
observance of National Adoption Week (Thanksgiving Week).
Your agency's focus could be upon local children in need
of adoptive homes.
O
Ensure that all employee supervisors are as flexible as
possible regarding the adoption-related leave needs of
employees. This might include incremental (hourly) leave
needed to meet with adoption agency personnel or longer
periods of leave to care for a newly adopted child.
O
Feature adoption articles in agency newsletters. These
might include stories about employees who have adopted
special needs children, infants, or children from other
countries, as well as a regular column picturing a local
waiting child.
I have instructed both the Department of Health and Human
Services and the Office of Personnel Management to work with
you in implementing these and other ideas.
A commitment to adoption is one we can all share. With just
a small effort, we can help our own employees and, just as
importantly, we can provide national leadership in support of
adoption. Finding loving homes for waiting children is reward
enough.
GEORGE BUSH
# # #