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Klobuchar Takes Adoption Concerns to Haiti

Will Meet with Haiti's President and U.S. Officials

February 12, 2010

(Minneapolis, MN) – With adoption documents in hand, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar is in Haiti today to meet with Haitian and U.S. officials, seeking to expedite adoptions that are still pending for American families. 

Klobuchar is also reviewing the status of relief activities to ensure that help is getting to where it is needed with maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Klobuchar said she will be meeting today with Haiti’s President René Préval and with U.S. Embassy officials.

With the urging of Klobuchar and others, the U.S. granted “humanitarian parole” allowing Haitian children already in the adoption process to come to the U.S. on an expedited basis and join their new families. 

Klobuchar said she plans to talk with Minnesota families with pending Haitian adoptions on Saturday.

Klobuchar noted that 24 Haitian children have already been united with their adoptive families in Minnesota since the earthquake on January 12.

In 2009, Haiti was among the top ten source countries for international adoptions in the U.S.  Minnesota has the highest rate of international adoptions in the country.  Since entering the Senate, Klobuchar has been a leader on international adoption issues and is sponsoring legislation to make the adoption process more family-friendly.

Klobuchar arrived in Port au Prince this morning and will return to Washington by the end of the day.  She is part of a bipartisan delegation that includes four other Senators:  Tom Harkin, D-Iowa; Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ; Bill Nelson, D-Fla.; and George LeMieux, R-Fla.  Rep. Jim Oberstar from Minnesota is also part of the delegation.

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