[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]




             PROTECTING CHILDREN IN INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 22, 1999

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Inter-Country 
Adoption Act of 1999, bipartisan legislation that has been introduced 
today. This legislation, of which I am an original co-sponsor, seeks to 
implement the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and 
Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (the ``Hague 
Convention''), which the President transmitted to the Senate for its 
advice and consent on June 11, 1999.
  For many years, children from across the world have found loving and 
nurturing homes here in the United States. American families have 
opened their arms to these needy children who might otherwise have 
remained orphans in their own countries. Likewise, while fewer in 
number, U.S. children are also placed with foreign nationals who seek 
to grow their families through adoption. And yet, amid the many shining 
examples of successful inter-country adoptions, there remain a 
substantial amount of cases where the results have not been as 
positive. For this reason, it is absolutely imperative that we take 
prompt action to ratify and implement the Hague Convention here in the 
United States--above all, to protect the rights of, and prevent abuses 
against, children, birth families and adoptive parents involved in 
inter-country adoptions. The Convention provides a legal framework 
whereby agencies and individuals would be required to meet 
internationally agreed upon standards of competence, financial 
soundness and ethical behavior.
  The legislation before you today would also ensure that such 
adoptions are indeed in the children's best interests. Among other 
matters, it establishes a central point of contact for intercountry 
adoptions under the Convention, provides for minimum standards for 
agencies and other persons involved in facilitating intercountry 
adoptions, and includes stiff civil and criminal penalties for anyone 
involved in misconduct such as fraud relating to intercountry 
adoptions. Through these and other mechanisms, this bill would 
facilitate the Federal Government's efforts to assist U.S. citizens 
seeking to adopt children from abroad and residents of other Convention 
countries seeking to adopt children from the United States. At the same 
time, this bill seeks to achieve these objectives in a way that would 
not preempt state law except to the minimum extent necessary.
  There is no reason why we should not take this important step towards 
safeguarding the rights of needy children, their birth parents and 
adoptive families. We must work together to strengthen international 
cooperation in adoption cases and do everything within our power to 
prevent abuses. I want to commend Chairman Gilman for his work in 
introducing this legislation, the many members who worked together to 
fashion a bipartisan bill, and all members who have joined us as 
original co-sponsors of this legislation.
  Please join me in pledging your support for the Inter-Country 
Adoption Act of 1999.

                          ____________________