"Every child deserves the nurturing environment of a stable and secure home life. The Professional Photographers of Iowa are helping children throughout Iowa in the KidSake program be welcomed home by a loving family," Grassley said.
Grassley nominated the Professional Photographers of Iowa (PPI) because of their work to help the KidSake Special Needs Adoption Project. Members of PPI have donated their photography skills and supplies to benefit children with special needs awaiting adoption.
The professional photographs taken by PPI members are used for recruitment purposes and highlight the unique personalities of the children who are available for adoption. Grassley said the photos of the kids are often the first contact an adoptive family has with a child.
The PPI-KidSake partnership has grown during the past six years to include the development of a KidSake calendar. PPI produces calendars that are sold across Iowa with all proceeds benefitting the KidSake project.
"Angels in Adoption gives us a chance to recognize the unsung heroes of adoption. The members of the Professional Photographers of Iowa are making a tremendous impact on the lives of many children in Iowa," Grassley said.
Grassley has been a long-time advocate for adoption. As one of the chief architects of the landmark tax relief bill signed into law last year, Grassley strongly supported efforts to substantially increase the federal incentives available through the federal tax code to encourage more adoptions.
The new adoption tax credit doubles from $5,000 to $10,000 per child the amount of money adoptive parents may credit on their federal taxes owed effective January 1, 2002. For non-special needs adoptions, the credit is available only to the extent the family has qualified adoption expenses. Now a permanent part of the federal tax code, the expanded adoption tax credit includes domestic foster care, private and overseas adoptions. The credit begins to phase out for families with adjusted gross income over $150,000.
Grassley was also a cosponsor of the Child Citizenship Act of 2000 which provides automatic U.S. citizenship to foreign-born children adopted by at least one citizen parent. The child's citizenship becomes automatic once the child is adopted and living in the United States.