FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 18^th, 2013

Paulsen Presses for Action on Russia Adoption Ban

Signs Bipartisan Bicameral Letters to President Obama and Russian President Putin 

Washington, D.C. – Representative Erik Paulsen (MN-03), joined the House and Senate Congressional Coalition on Adoption in pressing President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin for action on Russia’s recent ban on U.S. adoptions. The bipartisan and bicameral group of lawmakers sent letters expressing their deep disappointment in the recent ban on all adoptions of Russian children by American families and requesting assistance in completing intercountry adoption cases initiated prior to the ban’s enactment. Rep. Paulsen has heard from and worked with local constituents who’ve been affected by the recent ban. 

“Over the past few weeks, I’ve heard the heart wrenching stories of Minnesotans whose adoptions have been put in jeopardy because of Russia’s recent move to block adoptions to the United States. There are about 740,000 children living without parental care in Russia, and it is unacceptable for the Russian government to use these children as political pawns. I hope the President will get engaged in the discussion to help bring an end to this warrantless ban.”

View the letter sent to President Obama HERE.

View the letter sent to President Putin HERE. 

Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Rep. Paulsen’s work in Congress visit www.paulsen.house.gov.

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