[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 588 Introduced in House (IH)]

113th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 588

Concerning the suspension of exit permit issuance by the Government of 
the Democratic Republic of Congo for adopted Congolese children seeking 
           to depart the country with their adoptive parents.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 19, 2014

 Mr. Peterson (for himself, Mr. Barr, Mrs. Beatty, Mr. Braley of Iowa, 
    Mr. Burgess, Mr. Cohen, Ms. DelBene, Mr. Ellison, Mr. Farr, Mr. 
Hastings of Florida, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Lamborn, Mr. Larson of 
 Connecticut, Ms. McCollum, Mr. McDermott, Mr. McHenry, Mr. Nolan, Mr. 
 Pocan, Mr. Pompeo, Mr. Ribble, Mr. Shimkus, Mr. Smith of Washington, 
and Mr. Tiberi) submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                  to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Concerning the suspension of exit permit issuance by the Government of 
the Democratic Republic of Congo for adopted Congolese children seeking 
           to depart the country with their adoptive parents.

Whereas according to UNICEF, over 4,000,000 orphans are estimated to be living 
        in the Democratic Republic of Congo;
Whereas cyclical and violent conflict has plagued the Democratic Republic of 
        Congo since the mid-1990s;
Whereas the United States has made significant financial investments in the 
        Democratic Republic of Congo, providing an estimated $274,000,000 
        bilateral aid to the Democratic Republic of Congo in fiscal year 2013 
        and an additional $165,000,000 in emergency humanitarian assistance;
Whereas the policy of the Administration toward the Democratic Republic of Congo 
        is ``focused on helping the country become a nation that . . . provides 
        for the basic needs of its citizens'';
Whereas the United Nations, the Hague Conference on Private International Law, 
        and other international organizations have recognized a child's right to 
        a family as a basic human right worthy of protection;
Whereas adoption, both domestic and international, is an important child 
        protection tool and an integral part of child welfare best practices 
        around the world, along with family reunification and prevention of 
        abandonment;
Whereas, on September 27, 2013, the Congolese Ministry of Interior and Security, 
        General Direction of Migration, informed the United States Embassy in 
        Kinshasa that effective September 25, 2013, they had suspended issuance 
        of exit permits to adopted Congolese children seeking to depart the 
        country with their adoptive parents;
Whereas there are United States families with finalized adoptions in the 
        Democratic Republic of the Congo and the necessary legal paperwork and 
        visas ready to travel home with these children but are currently unable 
        to do so; and
Whereas, on December 19, 2013, the Congolese Minister of Justice, Minister of 
        Interior and Security, and the General Direction of Migration confirmed 
        to members of the United States Department of State that the current 
        suspension on the issuance of exit permits continues: Now, therefore, be 
        it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) affirms that all children deserve a safe, loving, and 
        permanent family;
            (2) recognizes the importance of ensuring that 
        international adoptions of all children are conducted in an 
        ethical and transparent manner;
            (3) expresses concern over the impact on children and 
        families caused by the current suspension of exit permit 
        issuance within the Democratic Republic of Congo;
            (4) respectfully requests that the Congolese Government--
                    (A) resume processing adoption cases and issuing 
                exit permits via the Ministry of Gender and Family's 
                Interministerial Adoption Committee;
                    (B) prioritize the processing of intercountry 
                adoptions which were initiated before the suspension; 
                and
                    (C) expedite the processing of those adoptions 
                which involve medically fragile children; and
            (5) encourages continued dialogue and cooperation between 
        the United States Department of State and the Democratic 
        Republic of the Congo's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to improve 
        the intercountry adoption process and ensure the welfare of all 
        children adopted from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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