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Klobuchar's Bipartisan Adoption Bill Passes Committee

Legislation would protect children's health and keep siblings together in international adoptions

December 17, 2009

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar announced today that the International Adoption Simplification Act was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee.  The legislation would restore two exemptions to U.S. immigration laws for internationally-adopted children that were inadvertently ended when U.S. began implementation of the Hague Convention on InterCountry Adoption.  The exemptions would help protect children’s health during the adoption process and allow U.S. parents to adopt children who are siblings, even if one of those children is between the ages of 16-18.       
    
“These two simple exemptions have helped many families through the adoption process and need to be restored,” said Klobuchar.  “This is an easy way to help parents protect the health of their new children during the adoption process.”

Klobuchar’s bill allows U.S. parents adopting foreign-born children to safely immunize their children in the United States rather than having to subject their children to numerous and potentially unsafe immunizations in foreign nations.  Presently, parents that adopt internationally are required to immunize children before bringing them into the United States.  The bill would allow foreign-born children to receive immunizations after they arrive in the United States, as long as the adoptive parents certified that the child will receive the necessary immunizations within 30 days of arrival or within a medically appropriate period of time. 
 
The bill also allows U.S. parents to adopt children who are siblings, even if one of those children is between the ages of 16-18.  Normally, children age 16 and above are ineligible for international adoption.  However, if U.S. parents are adopting foreign-born siblings, and one sibling is 16 or older, this exemption allows those adoptions to proceed.

Klobuchar has been a leader in international adoption issues. Earlier this year, she met with the Prime Minister of Vietnam to discuss reforming the way Vietnam handles adoptions with the United States and to urge the Vietnamese Prime Minister to take the steps needed for Vietnam to become a member of the Hague Convention on InterCountry Adoption.

Minnesota is a long-time leader in international adoptions, with one of the nation’s highest per capita rate of international adoptions. 

The International Adoption Simplification Act is cosponsored by Senators Inhofe, Landrieu, Durbin, Feingold, Lugar and Leahy.  The bill will now be considered by the whole Senate.

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