[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17957]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 FOREIGN ADOPTED CHILDREN EQUALITY ACT

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Madam President, I wish to speak for a moment about 
another bill Senator Inhofe and I introduced earlier: the Foreign 
Adopted Children Equality Act. This would make a small but important 
change in the way orphans are identified or classified when they are 
adopted overseas so that they can become automatic citizens.
  I was very proud to work with Senator Kennedy on this issue, with 
Senator Don Nickles from Oklahoma when he served in the body. We worked 
very hard to find a way, when families go overseas to adopt, once that 
adoption is final--we believe the active adoption itself puts that 
child in automatic custody of that parent. That parent, being an 
American citizen, should automatically be able to transfer that 
citizenship to that adopted child just as if you are born in the United 
States to an American citizen or you are born in the United States, you 
are an automatic American citizen; and most certainly if you are born 
overseas, but if your parents are citizens, you are an automatic 
citizen of the United States. You don't need any extra paperwork done 
on your behalf because we believe the act of adoption should be treated 
the same way as the act of birth. We believe this right should be 
transferred to orphan children adopted overseas.
  Right now, there is a little bit of a glitch in the law that is not 
allowing this. This act would correct that.
  I will finally end with one of my most wonderful memories of my time 
in the Senate, which was in Faneuil Hall in Boston with Senator Kennedy 
and with Congressman Delahunt, when we, on one special day, were able 
to swear in as citizens of the United States thousands of children who 
had been waiting to become citizens, having been adopted by American 
families. That was a very proud moment of mine and something many of us 
worked on. But this bill will take that to a new level. When families 
travel overseas to adopt, as my sister and many relatives and friends 
of Members of Congress took the opportunity to do, at the time the 
adoption is official in that country, the child becomes an automatic 
citizen of the United States, which is a great benefit.
  As I grow older in my life, I realize what an extraordinary privilege 
it is to be a citizen of the United States of America. So as our 
families adopt, that citizenship will be automatically transferred to 
their adopted children.
  So I thank you. Again, it is the Foreign Adopted Children Equality 
Act I am speaking about this morning and introducing for consideration 
of the body the Families for Orphans Act.
  Thank you, Madam President. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. CASEY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
recognized for 20 minutes in morning business.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.

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