[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16948]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 HOLT INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S SERVICES

  Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, Senator Wyden and I wish to recognize 
Holt International Children's Services during this year's celebration 
of National Adoption Month.
  On July 27, 2013 we celebrated the 60th anniversary of the end of the 
Korean war. By signing the armistice agreement, the border between the 
Koreas near the 38th Parallel was established. It was in the wake of 
this armistice that Holt International Children's Services first began 
its compassionate work, and today continues to be a leader in the field 
of adoption and child welfare issues.
  Harry and Bertha Holt of Eugene, OR were of humble means--Harry a 
lumberjack and a farmer and Bertha a nurse. In 1954, the Holts went to 
a small high school auditorium to view a film about Amerasian children 
living in South Korean orphanages. Moved by the film, their faith and a 
firm belief that all children deserve permanent, loving homes, the 
Holts began their lifelong mission in 1955 to revolutionize 
intercountry adoption.
  At the time, there were no laws allowing children to immigrate to one 
country from another for the purpose of adoption. Overcoming legal and 
cultural barriers, Mr. and Mrs. Holt sought families for children 
orphaned by the Korean war. The Holts persuaded Oregon U.S. Senator 
Richard Neuberger to introduce legislation titled ``The Relief of 
Certain Korean War Orphans.'' The legislation became law on August 11, 
1955, enabling the Holts to adopt eight Korean war orphans: Joseph Han, 
Mary Chae, Helen Chan, Paul Kim, Betty Rhee, Robert Chae, Christine Lee 
and Nathanial Chae. With this act of love and the founding of their 
agency--Holt International Children's Services--two farmers from rural 
Oregon became pioneers in international adoption.
  Today, Holt International strives to uphold Harry and Bertha's vision 
of finding loving homes for children regardless of race, religion, 
ethnicity or gender. Holt is committed to finding families for 
children, not children for families, an important distinction that sets 
the tone and priorities for Holt. Since the 1955 act, Holt has placed 
49,630 children from 31 countries with families in all 50 States. As 
the oldest intercountry adoption agency, Holt is the only organization 
that has more than three generations of adult adoptees.
  Holt continues to play an active and vital role in establishing 
policy and practice for intercountry adoption. In 1993, Holt adoptees 
Susan Cox and David Kim were members of the U.S. delegation to the 
Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption, an agreement which sets 
international standards for intercountry adoption that protects the 
child, the birth family and the adoptive family. Later, in 2008, Holt 
was a leading advocate in ensuring U.S. ratification of the Hague 
Convention treaty. Holt believes that adoption is a life long 
experience and has been at the forefront of developing post adoption 
services to ensure that adoptees grow and develop to their fullest 
potential.
  In addition to these monumental accomplishments, Holt International 
has become much more than an adoption agency. When considering a 
child's future, Holt always keeps the child's best interest at the 
forefront of every decision. For some children adoption is the only 
option, but Holt realizes that it is not the first option for children 
without families. Holt believes that it is best if children can stay 
with their birth family. Over the years, Holt has worked to develop and 
maintain programs overseas to give orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable 
children safe and nurturing environments in which to grow and thrive. 
These overseas programs include initiatives directed at family 
preservation, nutrition support, child and maternal health, income 
generation, assisting children with special needs, and shaping and 
establishing intercountry child welfare systems. Through these 
initiatives, Holt impacts approximately 30,000 children each year and 
helps to ensure that children at all stages of need are provided for in 
an effort to avoid the separation of families.
  In November, as National Adoption Month is celebrated, it is 
appropriate to recognize Holt International Children's Services for its 
diligent efforts and accomplishments in the field of child-welfare and 
intercountry adoption that have impacted thousands of children in the 
U.S. and around the world.

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