[116th Congress Public Law 184]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 134 STAT. 897]]
Public Law 116-184
116th Congress
An Act
To amend the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 to require the Secretary
of State to report on intercountry adoptions from countries which have
significantly reduced adoption rates involving immigration to the United
States, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 30, 2020 - [H.R. 1952]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Intercountry
Adoption Information Act of 2019. 42 USC 14901 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Intercountry Adoption Information Act
of 2019''.
SEC. 2. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN ANNUAL REPORT ON
INTERCOUNTRY ADOPTIONS.
(a) Report Elements.--Section 104(b) of the Intercountry Adoption
Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14914(b)) is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraphs:
``(9) <<NOTE: List.>> A list of countries that established
or maintained a significant law or regulation that prevented or
prohibited adoptions involving immigration to the United States,
regardless of whether such adoptions occurred under the
Convention.
``(10) For each country listed under paragraph (9), the date
on which the law or regulation was initially implemented.
``(11) Information on efforts taken with respect to a
country listed under paragraph (9) to encourage the resumption
of halted or stalled adoption proceedings involving immigration
to the United States, regardless of whether the adoptions would
have occurred under the Convention.
``(12) Information on any action the Secretary carried out
that prevented, prohibited, or halted any adoptions involving
immigration to the United States, regardless of whether the
adoptions occurred under the Convention.
``(13) For each country listed pursuant to paragraph (12), a
description of--
``(A) what policies, procedures, resources, and
safeguards the country lacks, or other shortcomings or
circumstances, that caused the action to be carried out;
``(B) what progress the country has made to
alleviate those shortcomings; and
``(C) what steps the Department of State has taken
in order to assist the country to reopen intercountry
adoptions.
``(14) <<NOTE: Assessment.>> An assessment of the impact of
the fee schedule of the Intercountry Adoption Accreditation and
Maintenance Entity on families seeking to adopt internationally,
especially
[[Page 134 STAT. 898]]
low-income families, families seeking to adopt sibling groups,
or families seeking to adopt children with disabilities.''.
(b) Public Availability of Report.--Section 104 of the Intercountry
Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14914) is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
``(c) <<NOTE: Web posting.>> Public Availability of Report.--The
Secretary shall make the information contained in the report required
under subsection (a) available to the public on the website of the
Department of State.''.
(c) <<NOTE: Compliance. 42 USC 14914 note.>> Privacy Concerns.--In
complying with the amendments made by subsections (a) and (b), the
Secretary shall avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, disclosing any
personally identifiable information relating to United States citizens
or the adoptees of such citizens.
(d) Conforming Amendment.--Section 104(a) of the Intercountry
Adoption Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 14914(a)) is amended by striking
``International Relations'' and inserting ``Foreign Affairs''.
(e) <<NOTE: 42 USC 14914 note.>> Application Date.--The amendments
made by this section shall apply with respect to reports required to be
submitted under section 104 of the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (42
U.S.C. 14914) beginning on the date that is 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act.
Approved October 30, 2020.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1952:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 165 (2019):
May 20, considered and passed House.
Vol. 166 (2020):
Sept. 30, considered and passed
Senate.
<all>