Idea of Foster Parents Day Approved by Congress

On Sunday, April 22, 2007 Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (D-KS-2ND) held a press conference along with former foster child, Kevin Surbaugh, and Don Jordan, secretary of the Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services.

Kevin Surbaugh has spent the past 17 years working to get Clifford and Phyllis Oshel and others like them recognized.

Years ago, the Oshels became foster parents. Surbaugh was one of the kids they cared for.

"The Oshels provided me a loving home," he said during a news conference Sunday.

For the Oshels, being foster parents was a good challenge.

"I'm thankful to God that we were called to be foster parents," Phyllis Oshel said.

Seventeen long years, 1990-2007, I have approached each Congress Person from Kansas' 2ND district, with the exception of Jim Slattery (D-KS) who was an out right no, each member was positive to the idea, but failed to take the idea to Congress.

Surbaugh said former state Rep. Jim Cates got a similar resolution passed in Kansas in 1990. Since then, Surbaugh has broached the subject with each person who has held the 2ND District congressional seat. While most supported the idea, he said, none before Boyda introduced a resolution.

"If we can have special days for every lobby there is, why has it taken so long to recognize the loving and hard-working foster parents of this country?" he said.

On Monday, April 23, H. R. 179 was voted on and passed with the required 2/3rds majority. The vote was 390-0 with 42 members not voting. Democratic 217 Republican 173.

Those not voting:
Alexander
Boozman
Brady (PA)
Brown, Corrine
Buyer
Costello
Cubin
Culberson
Davis, Jo Ann
Davis, Tom
Deal (GA)
Emerson
Everett
Fattah
Gallegly
Gutierrez
Hastings (FL)
Johnson (IL)
Kennedy
Kirk
LaHood
Lampson
Lantos
Linder
Lucas
Lynch
Meeks (NY)
Murphy, Tim
Neal (MA)
Peterson (PA)
Platts
Poe
Price (NC)
Pryce (OH)
Radanovich
Renzi
Rush
Shays
Shimkus
Terry
Thornberry
Westmoreland

So what does the text of the resolution say?

Whereas the family, serving as the primary source of love, identity, self-esteem, and support, is the very foundation of our communities, and our United States;

Whereas foster families, who open their homes and hearts to children whose families are in crisis, play a vital role in helping children heal and reconnect and in launching those children into successful adulthood;

Whereas over 500,000 youth are in foster care with at least 380,000 in a family-home setting;

Whereas numerous individuals and public and private organizations work to increase public awareness of the needs of children in foster care and leaving foster care as well as of the enduring and valuable contributions of foster parents; and

Whereas those families who are able to serve a role as foster parents should be wholeheartedly encouraged to do so: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--

(1) a National Foster Parents Day should be established to recognize the contributions of foster parents across the Nation; and

(2) the President should issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States and interested groups to conduct appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support for foster parents across the Nation.