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Klobuchar's Bipartisan Adoption Bill Passes House

Legislation would finally allow siblings up to the age of 18 to remain together in international adoptions

November 15, 2010

Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced today that her legislation, the International Adoption Simplification Act, has passed the House of Representatives and will now be sent to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The bipartisan legislation, introduced by Klobuchar and cosponsored by Senators James Inhofe (R-OK) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA), would allow U.S. parents to adopt children who are siblings, even if one of those children is between the ages of 16 and 18, and help protect children’s health during the adoption process.  The bill would restore two exemptions to U.S. immigration law for internationally adopted children that were eliminated when the United States began implementation of the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
    
“Parents from Minnesota and across the nation have been waiting too long to see these provisions restored,” Klobuchar said.  “These two exemptions are essential to ensuring the preservation of adoptive families and the health of adoptive children.  I look forward to seeing this bill signed into law.”

The Klobuchar bill allows U.S. parents to adopt children who are siblings, even if one of those children is between the ages of 16 and 18. Under current law, children aged 16 and above are ineligible for international adoption, but this bill would allow families like Tim and Renee Merkouris from Cambridge, Minnesota, to proceed with their adoptions.  With the passage of this bill, the Merkouris family can finally complete its adoption.

The bill also allows U.S. parents adopting foreign-born children to safely immunize their children in the United States within 30 days of their arrival, rather than have to subject their children to potentially unsafe immunizations in foreign nations. Presently, parents who adopt internationally are frequently required to immunize their children before bringing them to the United States.

Klobuchar has been a leader on international adoption issues in the Senate. She was actively involved in helping Minnesota families with pending adoptions in Haiti following the devastating earthquake that struck the island on January 12, 2010. She has also introduced the Adoption Fairness Act, legislation aimed at streamlining the citizenship process for adoptive children. 

Minnesota has a strong tradition of welcoming orphans from around the world, and it leads the nation with the highest per-capita rate of international adoptions. 

Senate sponsors of the International Adoption Simplification Act included Richard Durbin (D-IL), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Al Franken (D-MN), Richard Lugar (R-IN), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Similar legislation was introduced in the House by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).  

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