Buckner advocates for adoptive families in attendance for The Advocacy Day in Washington D.C.

Recently, representatives from the Buckner foster care and adoption team visited Washington D.C. to attend The Advocacy Day. The Advocacy Day was organized by the National Council for Adoption. There were adoption agencies from all fifty states in attendance. Joy Kramer, Buckner’s director of domestic adoptions, was joined by other agencies to speak to Texas representatives about policies that impact children and families throughout the state. 

The adoption advocates were seeking the following things from elected officials:

• Support for refundability of the Adoption Tax Credit
• Cosponsoring of the ADOPT (Adoption Deserves Oversight, Protection, and Transparency) act
• To join the Congressional Coalition for Adoption

The ADOPT act reforms existing law by establishing clear, commonsense guardrails for private domestic adoption.

Specifically, the legislation:

• Bans unlicensed intermediaries from advertising or providing adoption services they are not authorized to perform
• Requires adoption providers to advertise only in states where they are licensed; and
• Protects adoptive parents by ensuring that expectant mothers receive counseling and understand their responsibilities and rights before any significant financial support is provided

Advocates’ hope is that the ADOPT act is passed this term. It currently has bi-partisan and bicameral support. 

In February 2026, the IRD issued guidance that the Adoption Tax Credit may be used over time. It can be refunded up to $5,000 over the course of five years. This credit helps adoptive families who may not have qualified to receive the credit initially but will now qualify for a refund to offset the costs of adoption.

Learn more about Buckner Foster Care and Adoption and how you can protect vulnerable children in your community.