Pending Adoption Legislation

Congress is back in session this week and they are considering two pieces of legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that have an impact upon international adoption.  Please contact your House member to ask them to support the International Adoption Simplification Act (S. 1376) and the Help Haiti Act of 2010 (HR 5283).  All house members and office numbers can be found at www.house.gov.  If you call, please ask to speak with the staffer who handles adoption issues.

The International Adoption Simplification Act – Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to include in the definition of “child” a child adopted under the age of 18 (16 under current law).  This bill includes an exemption from required admissions vaccination documentation, certain children who have been adopted in a foreign country that is a signatory to the Hague or who are emigrating from such a country for U.S. adoption.

Help Haiti Act of 2010 – Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to adjust to permanent resident status an alien who: (1) was granted parole admission into the United States pursuant to the humanitarian parole policy for certain Haitian orphans announced on January 18, 2010, and suspended as to new applications on April 15, 2010; (2) is physically present in the United States; (3) is admissible as an immigrant; and (4) files an application for adjustment not later than three years after enactment of this Act.

Thank you for taking the time to contact your member of Congress!