[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 124 (Wednesday, September 22, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1931]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HAGUE INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTION ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM BLILEY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 1999

  Mr. BLILEY. Mr. Speaker, I am a proud co-sponsor of the Hague 
Intercountry Adoption Act introduced today on behalf of thousands of 
children and adoptive families. After months of work,this bill 
represents a bipartisan approach to address only the issues necessary 
to implement the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption. The future 
success of this bill dictates that we fulfill our obligations under the 
Hague Convention and leave all other matters for another time.
  As an adoptive father, adoption is very close to my heart. My 
profound commitment to helping vulnerable children has been shown in 
legislation I have sponsored to promote adoption over the years. I am 
committed to helping children without parents in the U.S. and around 
the world join a loving home. The Hague Intercountry Adoption Act 
builds upon a foundation established by adoptive families in America. 
The willingness of many families to travel across the world to adopt 
orphaned children shows the true spirit of America.
  Thousands of children worldwide are waiting helplessly for parents to 
read to them, to teach them how to tie shoe laces, to say bedtime 
prayers with them, and to eat ice-cream with them on a summer night. It 
is in the best interest for a child to be part of a loving family. Only 
as a last resort should intercountry adoption be a option. However, 
after all steps to place a child for adoption in their birth country 
are exhausted, intercountry adoption must be a viable and safe option 
for the children and adoptive parents. It takes a great deal of faith 
for one country to allow their children to be adopted by people from 
another country. As a result, officials in other countries are looking 
for accountability at a federal level to ensure the safety and rights 
of their children.
  In the last year, I have met with several Members of the Russian Duma 
and the Director General of China Center on Adoption Affairs. I 
informed both delegations that the U.S. Congress places significant 
emphasis on the future of intercountry adoption. The Hague Intercountry 
Act specifically addresses the issue of a central authority in the U.S. 
State Department for other countries to contact in case there is a 
problem with an intercountry adoption.
  Adoptive parents will benefit by an accreditation system required by 
all agencies who provide intercountry adoption services. A strong 
accreditation process will help prevent some people from taking 
advantage of vulnerable parents in the process of building a family 
through adoption. Adoptive parents in America deserve to know that 
their adoption agency has passed a vigorous and thorough accreditation 
standard.
  Adoptive parents and government officials demand to know unethical 
behavior will not be tolerated. The Hague Intercountry Adoption Act 
provides for civil money penalties up to $25,000 for a first violation 
and up to $50,000 for each subsequent violation by unscrupulous 
individuals and agencies.
  In order to ensure ethical behavior for all involved, the above-
mentioned civil penalties apply to any individual who provides adoption 
services in the United States in connection with Convention adoptions 
without proper accreditation or approval. Additionally, if one provide 
false statements, improperly induces consent from a birth mother to 
relinquish her parental rights or violates the privacy provisions 
contained in Section 401, they will also be subject to fines of up to 
$25,000 and $50,000. Criminal penalties in the same amounts will also 
apply for violations. The strong enforcement provisions included in the 
Hague Intercountry Adoption Act are a necessary tool to ensure 
penalties go far beyond the cost of merely doing business.
  Rarely does Congress have an opportunity to improve the lives of 
children and families. The Hague Intercountry Adoption Act gives the 
U.S. Congress an opportunity to stand-up and reaffirm our support for 
intercountry adoption.

                          ____________________