Senator Cramer, Congressional Coalition on Adoption Respond to China’s Termination of Intercountry Adoption Program

BISMARCK, N.D. - In early September, the U.S. Department of State received notice from the People's Republic of China (PRC) Ministry of Civil Affairs stating as of August 28, China is no longer carrying out foreign adoption work. All pending and future adoptions, except those among blood relatives, have been halted.

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-AL), and Adam Smith (D-WA), in sending a joint letter to the U.S. Department of State Office of Children's Issues, asking it seek further clarification on the details and reasoning for China's decision. The co-chairs also requested the status of pending adoption cases and called on the Department to share the information with adoptive families and service providers. Additionally, the senators urged the Department to press Chinese officials to finalize adoption cases in the United States.

"We are disappointed by the People's Republic of China's decision to halt its intercountry adoption program," the members wrote. "This news is devastating for the hundreds of children and American families with adoption cases pending in China, many of whom have waited years for these adoptions to be completed."

"As co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, the safety of adopted children and hundreds of would-be adoptees is our top priority, and the sudden termination of China's adoption program has exacerbated our concern for these children's well-being,"the members wrote."Many of these children have special health care needs, and some will soon age out of care systems without the support of a permanent family. It is particularly critical that these children have access to the care and support that they need - which hundreds of American families approved for adoption are willing to provide."

Click here for the letter.