Jim DeMint
U.S. Senator, South Carolina
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| Press Release |
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DeMint Celebrates National Adoption Month
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November 7, 2008 - Columbia, SC - U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint (R-South Carolina) today hosted an event celebrating National Adoption Month. Officials from the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided information on changes in international adoption procedures as a result of the recent implementation of the Hague Adoption Convention. Other participants included congressional staff, adoption agencies and state agencies responsible for licensing adoption agencies.
“Adoption represents the best of the American spirit and many adopting families have been concerned about new procedural changes will impact their ability to adopt children from other countries,” said DeMint. “Today we brought everyone together to ensure we are able to continue providing for orphans who need loving and safe homes. We must work together to support families who are in the process of an international adoption and assure them they will be able to complete their adoption without unnecessary bureaucratic red tape.”
The United States is part of an important treaty on intercountry adoption called the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Hague Adoption Convention). This treaty governs adoptions between the United States and nearly 75 other signatory nations. The Hague Adoption Convention entered into effect for the United States on April 1, 2008 and its intent is to protect children and their families against the risks of unregulated adoptions and human trafficking, and ensures intercountry adoptions are in the best interests of children.
Senator DeMint celebrated National Adoption Month today by commemorating the many families whose lives have been shaped by adoption and by recognizing the thousands of children waiting in foster care for their own “forever family.” He also took time to recognize Rebecca and Jeff Bate, his 2008 nominees for the Angels in Adoption Award. The Bates have a three-year-old adopted daughter and ten-month-old triplet boys whose adoptions will be finalized this week. “Adoption Month is a continuing reminder that parents like the Bates who open their homes to children are true American heroes.”
As a member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, Senator DeMint has the privilege of nominating individuals or families as Angels in Adoption each year. The purpose of this award is to highlight adoptions and to honor those who are making a difference for adopted children. “National Adoption Month is a great time to celebrate those families who have made the life-saving choice of adoption, and to encourage more Americans to open their hearts to children in need. There may be unwanted pregnancies, but there are no unwanted children.”
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Charleston
112 Custom House
200 East Bay St
Charleston, SC 29401
P: 843-727-4525
F: 843-722-4923
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Columbia
1901 Main St
Suite 1475
Columbia, SC 29201
P: 803-771-6112
F: 803-771-6455
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Greenville
105 North Spring St
Suite 109
Greenville, SC 29601
P: 864-233-5366
F: 864-271-8901
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Washington, D.C.
340 Russell
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
P: 202-224-6121
F: 202-228-5143
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