[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 110 (Tuesday, July 15, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S4468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         CONGO ADOPTION POLICY

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I want to talk about an issue today that 
transcends party lines: the humanitarian crisis we are seeing in Africa 
and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  In September of last year the Congo informed the United States that 
they would no longer issue exit visas for Congolese children who were 
in the process of being adopted by American parents. These are kids 
that have gone through the adoption process and yet the Government of 
the Congo says they cannot leave the country. This terrible and 
unjustifiable action has left hundreds of children and their families 
here in the United States in limbo.
  Last Friday the Congolese Government announced an end to exit permit 
exceptions until the country passes what they deem are new adoption 
laws. I stand here today to express our deep concern and commitment to 
resolve this crisis from so many in the Senate. We have over 50 
cosponsors for a resolution calling on the Congo to do the right thing. 
Those of us who have cosponsored this are looking for a way to help 
these children who have already been adopted to be reunited with their 
families permanently.
  More than 350 families have finalized adoptions of Congolese 
children. They have obtained the necessary U.S. approvals, including 
U.S. visas authorizing their children to immigrate to the United 
States. There were 400 additional families in the process of completing 
adoptions at the time Congo imposed this moratorium. In every way that 
matters, including in what they feel in their hearts, these are their 
children.
  All told, more than 800 children are caught in this diplomatic 
nightmare. By the way, that is about 10 percent of total adoptions 
worldwide by American families last year. These are international 
adoptions, so it is a significant number. Many of these kids have 
special needs, and those needs are not being met. Until they are able 
to come home and be with their families, those needs will not be met. 
In fact, some lives have been put at risk. In fact, six of these 
children have already died.
  I had the opportunity to meet with some of the parents of some of 
these children and have seen some of the photos and heard some of the 
stories. If the Congolese Government would simply do the right thing 
and allow these exit permits, lives would be saved. We can't remain 
silent in the face of this tragedy.
  Together with Senator Landrieu of Louisiana, I am offering a 
resolution calling on the administration to take action and demand that 
the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo resume 
processing these adoption cases and issuing exit permits so these kids 
can leave. They need to prioritize the processing of intercountry 
adoptions which were initiated before the suspension began.
  I thank Senator Landrieu for her hard work on this matter, as well as 
50 of our colleagues from both sides of the aisle who have joined us.
  Last week I met with a number of families from Ohio, and we had the 
opportunity to talk about some of these kids and some of their specific 
circumstances. We also talked about what these families are ready to 
do, and they are ready to give these kids the support and love they 
need.
  I met with the Millimans from Columbus, OH. They are adopting a 
little girl who has very serious medical conditions. They are in the 
final stages of the adoption process, and they fear they will not be 
able to provide her the treatment and care she needs.
  I also met with the Webb family. The Webbs are in the process of 
adopting a child from the Congo to bring to their home in Wooster, OH. 
The Webbs' biological daughter Heather is also in the process of 
adopting from the Congo. They were both in the Capitol to talk about 
their kids and what they have been through.
  These families represent the very best of our country and our values, 
a respect for these young people's lives and a commitment to live with 
humility, prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable children. This 
diplomatic impasse is keeping these families apart. It is time the 
administration joined with Congress to support the families and the 
children involved in this crisis in every way possible.
  In the coming days, I hope we will speak with one voice and demand 
that Congo reverse their decision and process these adoptions as 
quickly as possible. It is my sense this is an issue that will come up 
in committee this week. I hope before this session is out we will be 
able to take this up on the floor of the Senate, pass it, and begin to 
put some pressure on the Congolese Government to do the right thing. It 
is time to allow these children to be with their loving families.
  With that, I yield back all time and note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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