WASHINGTON, D.C. — In honor of National Adoption Month, Senator Steve Daines today honored Mrs. Mary Crawford, an adoptive parent from Stevensville, Montana. Mary and her husband have selflessly opened their homes and hearts to nine foster children, six of whom they have since adopted.
Daines is an original cosponsor of S.Res. 315, a resolution to designate November as National Adoption Month and November 21 as National Adoption Day. The resolution passed the Senate unanimously this week. There are 415,000 children currently in the United States foster care system and 108,000 of those are waiting to be adopted.
Through his “Montanan of the Week” initiative, Daines each week will highlight a Montanan by submitting a statement of recognition in the official Congressional Record, the document that reflects the official proceedings of Congress.
Daines’ recognition in the Congressional Record is available here.
Daines welcomes anyone to nominate fellow Montanans for Daines’ “Montanan of the Week” program by calling Daines’ office at 202-224-2651 or by filling out the contact form on Daines’ website: http://www.daines.senate.gov/connect/email-steve
The following is the statement submitted to the Congressional Record:
MONTANAN OF THE WEEK
MR. DAINES. Mr. PRESIDENT, in honor of National Adoption Month, I wanted to recognize one member of Montana’s community who has opened her home and heart to be an adoptive parent. Mrs. Mary Crawford is, what I believe, one of the best Montana has to offer.
As an original cosponsor of a resolution to designate November as National Adoption Month and November 21 as National Adoption Day that passed the Senate unanimously this week, I could find no better time than this to honor Mary. This month we honor selfless individuals like Mary who have dedicated themselves towards comforting, protecting and improving the lives of children they have welcomed into their homes.
Like most foster parents who later become adoptive parents, the process isn’t easy. But the resolve of both Mary and husband to continue to provide a loving home for nine children is nothing short of admirable. Mary has provided a family that has made a huge difference in these children’s lives—giving them a family for life, beyond just their childhood years. These children are safe today in the arms of loving, adopting parents, because of Mary.
Montana has kids that are ready and waiting to be adopted. In fact, there are 415,000 children currently in the United States foster care system and 108,000 of those are waiting to be adopted. Mary has taken tremendous steps in providing six children with a forever home to give them the stability and love that she and her husband could provide.
I am unbelievably proud to have a citizen like Mary Crawford in the great state of Montana. I am thankful for the love and support she has shown these children.
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