An Act To amend the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 to require the Secretary of State to report on intercountry adoptions from countries which have significantly reduced adoption rates involving immigration to the United States, and for other purposes.

Oct. 30, 2020

[H.R. 1952]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

Intercountry Adoption Information Act of 2019.

42 USC 14901 note.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “Intercountry Adoption Information Act of 2019”.

SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS.(a) Report Elements.—Section 104(b) of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14914(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:“(9)

List.

A list of countries that established or maintained a significant law or regulation that prevented or prohibited adoptions involving immigration to the United States, regardless of whether such adoptions occurred under the Convention. “(10) For each country listed under paragraph (9), the date on which the law or regulation was initially implemented. “(11) Information on efforts taken with respect to a country listed under paragraph (9) to encourage the resumption of halted or stalled adoption proceedings involving immigration to the United States, regardless of whether the adoptions would have occurred under the Convention. “(12) Information on any action the Secretary carried out that prevented, prohibited, or halted any adoptions involving immigration to the United States, regardless of whether the adoptions occurred under the Convention. “(13) For each country listed pursuant to paragraph (12), a description of—“(A) what policies, procedures, resources, and safeguards the country lacks, or other shortcomings or circumstances, that caused the action to be carried out; “(B) what progress the country has made to alleviate those shortcomings; and “(C) what steps the Department of State has taken in order to assist the country to reopen intercountry adoptions. “(14)

Assessment.

An assessment of the impact of the fee schedule of the Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and Maintenance Entity on families seeking to adopt internationally, especially 134 STAT. 898 low-income families, families seeking to adopt sibling groups, or families seeking to adopt children with disabilities.” . (b) Public Availability of Report.—Section 104 of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14914) is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(c)

Web posting.

Public Availability of Report.—The Secretary shall make the information contained in the report required under subsection (a) available to the public on the website of the Department of State.” . (c)

Compliance.

42 USC 14914 note.

Privacy Concerns.—In complying with the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b), the Secretary shall avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, disclosing any personally identifiable information relating to United States citizens or the adoptees of such citizens. (d) Conforming Amendment.—Section 104(a) of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14914(a)) is amended by striking “International Relations” and inserting “Foreign Affairs”. (e)

42 USC 14914 note.

Application Date.—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to reports required to be submitted under section 104 of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14914) beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.

Approved October 30, 2020.