U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) on Feb. 6 introduced a bipartisan bill to reform the international adoption process.
“There are millions of children around the world without a safe, stable home,” Sen. Blunt said. “We can help connect these children with the families they deserve by making sure intercountry adoption remains a viable option.”
The Intercountry Adoption Advisory Committee Act, S. 363, sponsored by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), would authorize the U.S. Secretary of State to establish an Intercountry Adoption Advisory Committee within the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State (DOS) that would coordinate the development and implementation of policies and programs on intercountry adoption, according to a summary provided by Sen. Blunt’s office.
“This bipartisan bill will give the Secretary of State a valuable resource to develop and implement policies that promote intercountry adoption,” said Sen. Blunt, who along with Sen. Klobuchar is a co-chair of the Congressional Adoption Caucus.
If enacted, S. 363 also would charge the advisory committee with developing recommendations to improve the intercountry adoption process.
“From adoptive parents, to adoptees, to social workers, this bipartisan legislation will give everyone in the adoption community a voice,” added Sen. Klobuchar. “Together, we can develop the best practices to find every child a home.”
The lawmakers in August 2018 introduced the same-named S. 3396 in the Senate, followed in September 2018 by the U.S. House of Representatives version, H.R. 6985. Both bills stalled in committee.
The reintroduced S. 363 has been referred to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee for consideration.
“I urge my colleagues to support this bill and join us in our efforts to make it easier for loving families to adopt a child from abroad,” said Sen. Blunt.