According to Voice for Adoption, the Making Adoption Affordable Act (S3616 and HR4373) will not be addressed as stand-alone legislation, but in an overall tax “extender” bill that the 112th Congress will consider before it concludes in December.  There is concern that an extension may not include a refundability provision and likely will not be made permanent, but there is still time to advocate for these provisions.

To show support for the credit, urge your U.S. Senators and Representatives to become co-sponsors of S3616 and HR4373. Without new legislation, the current $12,650 credit will not be refundable for 2012 and will expire at year-end; in 2013, only those adopting children with special needs would be eligible for $6,000 in qualifying expenses. To find your Senators’ names, go to: http://1.usa.gov/3UAs; for Representatives, go to: http://1.usa.gov/prsjAl and enter your zip code. Call 202-225-3121 and ask for his/her office; tell the child welfare/tax staffer that you are a constituent (provide your mailing address if leaving a message).

To see if your lawmakers are already cosponsors, go to: http://1.usa.gov/iZaESp and search by bill number.

For advocacy resources, go to: http://bit.ly/SawuDk.

To view the State Policy and Advocacy Resource Center and North American Council on Adoptable Children adoption tax credit webinar, go to: http://bit.ly/WtgtYQ.

To read a Nov. 13 column by Kathleen Strottman, executive director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, “Congress: Save adoption tax credit” in the Washington Times, go to: http://bit.ly/TiVDKz; an Oct. 29 New York Times column, “Make Sure the Neediest Are Covered,” by Joe Kroll, executive director of NACAC, go to: http://nyti.ms/10Oa7Z8; a Nov. 21 article on FoxNews.com, “Dive off fiscal cliff could be ‘disastrous’ for orphans, foster children, say advocates” by Joshua Rhett Miller, go to: http://fxn.ws/SnwIZo; and a Nov. 27 Orlando, Florida wftv.com article, “Tax credit for adoptive parents to end,” go to: http://bit.ly/TtWZVE.

Also read the blog posted on November 19, 2012 “Do your Part to Help Save the Adoption Tax Credit”