Representative Robert Aderholt, AL-04, chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, on Thursday introduced the Adoption Deserves Oversight, Protection, and Transparency, ADOPT, Act. He was joined by original co-sponsors Representative Danny K. Davis, IL-07; Representative Laurel Lee, FL-15; and Representative Sydney Kamlager-Dove, CA-37.
The ADOPT Act is said to “protect adoptive families, children, and expectant mothers from exploitation by unlicensed adoption intermediaries.” The legislation requires adoption providers and attorneys to operate only in states where they are licensed, ensuring that adoptive families have access to licensed, regulated and trustworthy providers in their communities, Aderholt’s release shared.
“Every child deserves the chance to find a loving, forever home in a safe and ethical way. For too long, unlicensed intermediaries have exploited vulnerable birth mothers and prospective adoptive parents,” said Congressman Aderholt. “The ADOPT Act ensures that adoption providers operate aboveboard and within the law. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to protect families and children from bad practices and to promote responsible, caring adoption services.”
This legislation “prevents the commodification of children by holding bad actors accountable and establishes oversight to stop intermediaries who operate outside moral and ethical standards,” the release stated. It was introduced with bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress.
Senator Katie Britt, R-Ala., and Senator Amy Klobuchar, D-MN, introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
“I believe it is incumbent upon Congress to ensure loving parents pursuing adoption to grow their families, expectant mothers working with adoption providers, and children are protected from bad actors seeking to take advantage of the adoption process,” said Britt. “This legislation does just that, establishing necessary oversight in the adoption process to promote transparency and uphold the integrity of adoption in our nation. I’ll always use my position on the federal level to fight for women, children, and families, and I’m proud to join my colleagues in this latest effort to defend those involved in the adoption process from exploitation.”
“Adoption changes lives—for kids and adoptive parents alike. Unfortunately, unlicensed ‘baby brokers’ prey on vulnerable mothers and families, hurting everyone in the process,” said Klobuchar, co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption. “That’s why Senator Britt and I are introducing the bipartisan ADOPT Act, which protects expecting mothers and adoptive families from exploitation by ensuring that parents pursuing private, domestic adoption are working with trusted, licensed professionals.”
“The Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, AAAA, applauds efforts to protect adoptive families and children during the adoption process, by ensuring they are served by licensed adoption professionals, with appropriate oversight and transparency,” said Genie Miller Gillespie, adoption policy director of AAAA. “Welcoming a child into a family through adoption is a tremendous and joyous event; the legal process behind that adoption must match the magnitude of the event. Ensuring the guardrails of the legal process are maintained and that all parties to an adoption are protected will help ensure that families do not have their hopes exploited. The ADOPT Act is an important step in protecting families and children.”
Introduced during National Adoption Month, Aderholt said the ADOPT Act is an important step to ensure safe and transparent adoption practices.
