Congressman Dennis Cardoza
18th Congressional District of California

“This bill encourages adoption by reducing financial burdens on service members who want to adopt and by providing more time for parent and child interaction during a crucial period of child development,” Cardoza said.  “As an adoptive parent, I know the importance of bonding with children who are new to a family.”

Although the Department of Defense provides up to $2,000 per child and up to $5,000 per year in adoption expenses, current policy does not allow service members to take paid leave when adopting a child.  In addition, the Family and Medical Leave Act does not apply to the Armed Forces.     

The Military Adoption Act would provide up to 21 days of paid leave to the primary caregiver immediately after placement of an adopted child in their home.  Without paid leave, service members will continue to face the challenge of balancing the desire for time off to fully integrate a new child into a new home against the need of income to support a new child.

“It’s important to make the military as family-friendly as possible,” said Cardoza, who is a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption.  “The existing provisions for adoption are significant, but this legislation would remove a major hurdle.”

Cardoza’s bill has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.  Identical legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Nebraska, and Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Oregon.