PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 7, 1997
TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National Advisory Board on Adoption Title II: Adoption Data Collection System Title III: Adoption Education Programs Title IV: Adoption Benefits for Federal Employees and Military Personnel Title V: Adoption Credit Made Permanent for Adoptions of Children Without Special Needs Title VI: Maternal Health Certificates Program Title VII: Rehabilitation Grants for Maternity Housing and Services Facilities Title VIII: Sense of Congress Regarding Changes in State Adoption Laws Omnibus Adoption Act of 1997 - Title I: National Advisory Board on Adoption - Establishes the National Advisory Board on Adoption to monitor program implementation under this Act and make recommendations to the Congress. Title II: Adoption Data Collection System - Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a status report to the Congress on implementation of a certain data collection system required under the Social Security Act. Title III: Adoption Education Programs - Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award social work graduate school fellowships for work in innovative programs on the effects of adoption on the parties involved. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 302) Directs the Secretary of Education to award grants to the States for implementation of adoption education programs. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Adoption Benefits for Federal Employees and Military Personnel - Amends Federal law to set forth adoption benefits for Federal employees and military personnel. Directs the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Transportation to coordinate their efforts in implementing this Act and to consult with the National Advisory Board on Adoption. Title V: Adoption Credit Made Permanent for Adoptions of Children Without Special Needs - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to make permanent: (1) the tax credit for adoptions of children without special needs; and (2) the exclusion from an employee's gross income of any amounts paid or expenses incurred by the employee's employer for qualified adoption expenses. Expresses the sense of the Congress that after studies have been done to evaluate the impact of the credit for adoption expenses for children without special needs, consideration should be given to making such credit a refundable credit. Title VI: Maternal Health Certificates Program - Directs the Secretary to establish a maternal health certificates program to cover maternity and housing services facility expenses incurred by eligible pregnant women. Authorizes appropriations. Title VII: Rehabilitation Grants for Maternity Housing and Services Facilities - Directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to implement a grant program to assist eligible nonprofit entities to rehabilitate buildings for use as housing and services facilities for eligible pregnant women. Authorizes appropriations. Title VIII: Sense of Congress Regarding Changes in State Adoption Laws - Expresses the sense of the Congress that the States should adopt a specified statutory adoption scheme, including certain health plan benefits.
People & committees
Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4] · R–NJ
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Postsecondary Education, Training and Life-Long Learning.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Human Resources.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Civil Service.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
Executive Comment Requested from DOD.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health and Environment, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Chairman.
Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure
Referred to House Government Reform
Referred to House Commerce
Referred to House Ways and Means
Referred to House Banking and Financial Services
Referred to House National Security
Referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on National Security, Banking and Financial Services, Ways and Means, Commerce, Government Reform and Oversight, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to House Education and the Workforce
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Jun 3, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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