[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 156 (Saturday, November 8, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12202-S12203]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               NATIONAL VOLUNTARY MUTUAL REUNION REGISTRY

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to S. 1487 introduced earlier today by myself.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1487) to establish a National Voluntary Mutual 
     Reunion Registry.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
advanced to third reading and passed, and the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, all without further action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 1487) was read a third time and passed, as follows:

                                S. 1487

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

     SECTION 1. NATIONAL VOLUNTARY MUTUAL REUNION REGISTRY.

       Part E of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     670 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``SEC. 479A. NATIONAL VOLUNTARY MUTUAL REUNION REGISTRY.

       ``(a) Exchange of Mutually Requested Identifying 
     Information.--The Secretary, in the discretion of the 
     Secretary and provided that there is no net cost to the 
     Federal Government, may use the facilities of the Department 
     of Health and Human Services to facilitate the voluntary, 
     mutually requested exchange of identifying information that 
     has been mutually consented to, by an adult adopted 
     individual who is 21 years of age or older with--
       ``(1) any birth parent of the adult adopted individual; or
       ``(2) any adult sibling who is 21 years of age or older, of 
     the adult adopted individual,

     if such persons involved have, on their own initiative, 
     consented by a signed notarized statement to the exchange of 
     such identifying information.
       ``(b) Requirements.--The Secretary shall ensure that a 
     National Voluntary Mutual Reunion Registry established under 
     this section (in this section referred to as the 
     ``Registry'') meets the following requirements.
       ``(1) Centralized capacity.--The Registry provides a 
     centralized nationwide capacity for the information described 
     in subsection (a) and utilizes appropriately designed 
     computer and data processing methods to protect the privacy 
     of the information contained in the Registry, and does not 
     intrude on any other data system maintained by the Department 
     of Health and Human Services.
       ``(2) Establishment of procedures.--The Registry complies 
     with procedures established by the Secretary that provide 
     that--
       ``(A) only information necessary to facilitate a match 
     shall be contained in the Registry and the Registry shall not 
     attempt to make contact for the purpose of facilitating a 
     reunion with any individual who is not entered into or 
     participating in the Registry;
       ``(B) to the maximum extent feasible, the confidentiality 
     and privacy rights and interests of all parties participating 
     in the Registry are protected; and
       ``(C) information pertaining to any individual that is 
     maintained in connection with any activity carried out under 
     this section shall be confidential and not be disclosed for 
     any purpose without the prior, written, informed consent of 
     the individual with respect to whom such information applies 
     or is maintained.
       ``(c) Reasonable fees.--Reasonable fees, established by 
     taking into consideration, and not to exceed, the average 
     charge of comparable services offered by States, may be 
     collected for services provided under this section.
       ``(d) Penalty for Violation.--
       ``(1) Fine and imprisonment.--Any individual or entity that 
     is found to have disclosed or used confidential information 
     in violation of the provisions of this section shall be 
     subject to a fine of $5,000 and imprisonment for a period not 
     to exceed 1 year.
       ``(2) Nonapplicability of section 3571 of title 18, united 
     states code.--The provisions of section 3571 of title 18, 
     United States Code, shall not apply to a violation described 
     in paragraph (1).
       ``(e) No Preemption.--Nothing in this section invalidates 
     or limits any law of a State or of a political subdivision of 
     a State concerning adoption and the confidentiality of that 
     State's sealed adoption record policy.''.

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, once again the Senate has gone on record in 
support of a measure aimed at humanizing the process through which 
adult biological relatives separated by adoption, who are looking for 
each other, can make contact.
  The passage of this Craig-Levin bill would not have been possible 
without the steadfast leadership of Senator Larry Craig. His 
sensitivity, his commitment, his compassion and his clear understanding 
of this issue has been enlightening to all of the Members of this body. 
Let me also thank Senator McCain and Senator Landrieu for their 
commitment and bipartisan spirit throughout our discussions on this 
issue.
  Mr. President, we are deeply touched by the difficulties experienced 
by adult adopted persons, birth parents, and separated siblings who, 
often for many years and at great expense, have been seeking one 
another. Aside from the natural human desire to know one's roots and 
genetic heritage, there are other important reasons why many birth 
relatives seek to make contact with each other. Some are seeking a 
deeper sense of identity, some need vital information which may affect 
their own mental and physical health and some are facing momentous 
family decisions that require more knowledge about their heritage; and 
a substantial percentage of birth parents say they want to be available 
to the adult children many relinquished at birth, during a time of 
stress, should they also desire to make contact.
  We believe that S. 1487, the National Voluntary Mutual Reunion 
Registry, deals with these needs and emotions in a careful and 
sensitive way. The legislation permits the HHS Secretary, at no net 
expense to the Federal Government, to facilitate the voluntary, 
mutually requested exchange of identifying information that has been 
mutually consented to in a signed notarized statement of identifying 
information by the birth parent, adult adoptee 21 years or older or 
adult siblings.
  This legislation does not call for the unsealing of adoption records. 
Currently, over half the States provide for voluntary and mutual 
reunion facilitation. However, State-based systems are restricted, by 
nature, to the geographic boundaries of the State. Since we are a 
mobile society, that limitation reduces the utility of State-based 
systems. Adoptions are often started in one State but finalized in 
another. Additionally, the adoptee, birth parent or siblings may be a 
resident of several different States during their lifetimes.
  Finally, Mr. President, this legislation does not mandate, but simply 
gives the Secretary the discretion to facilitate voluntary, mutual 
reunions, if she so chooses.
  I commend my colleagues in the Senate on the passage of this humane 
and much-needed legislation. I ask unanimous consent that the text of 
the bill be included in the Record again at this point.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

[[Page S12203]]



                          ____________________