Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 3331) to provide for universal intercountry adoption accreditation standards, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material in the Record on this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in support of S. 3331, the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012. This bipartisan bill, which recently received unanimous consideration in the Senate, is the Senate-side companion to H.R. 6027, which is the bipartisan House bill introduced by my good friend from New Jersey (Mr. Sires).

This bill requires that all intercountry adoption providers in the U.S. meet the same accreditation standards regardless of whether the adoption is from a Hague Convention signatory country.

Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would like to direct attention to yet another outrage perpetrated by Russian strongman Vladimir Putin, one that he has knowingly directed at innocent Russian children awaiting adoption. His action was a shameful response to legislation overwhelmingly adopted by the Congress that targets Russian officials engaged in human rights abuses, specifically those regarding Sergei Magnitsky.

Magnitsky was a Russian lawyer killed in prison after having uncovered massive government corruption, including senior officials in Putin's regime. Instead of prosecuting those

criminals, Putin has instead cruelly chosen to target Russian orphans by banning adoptions by Americans.

Tens of thousands of Russian children have been adopted by families in this country, who have given these innocents the love and protection they otherwise likely would have never known. Now, countless numbers may be condemned to tragic lives, knowingly sacrificed by Vladimir Putin in a sickening effort to show the world just how tough he is. Is there any additional proof needed of the despicable nature of this man and his regime?

I call upon President Obama to tell Putin that the U.S. cannot and will not engage in a business-as-usual relationship with a regime so utterly devoid of humanity, a regime that deliberately tears apart the lives of its own children by depriving them the love of those Americans who wish only to give these innocents a family and a better future.

Let those in the administration who turn their eyes from this outrage explain to these orphans why they must be sacrificed for the sake of good relations with the Putin regime.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, we have no further requests for time, and we are ready to yield back once the gentleman from California yields back.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 3331, the Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012, and I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would like to thank Senator Kerry and my colleague from New Jersey, a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Sires, for their hard work on this legislation.

This bill ensures American families adopting children will be protected from unethical and fraudulent practices by international adoption agencies. For years, conflicting country-by-country standards have plagued the international adoption process, causing harm to adoptive children and families.

The bill would expand accreditation standards to cover all international adoptions. Presently, those standards apply only to adoptions from countries that are parties to the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, known as the Hague Convention.

Accreditation standards help prevent the sale of children, thwart fraudulent financial practices, and ensure transparency in fees and the adoption process. They also encourage agencies to employ staff with professional qualifications and training.

This is a commonsense bill that should have been enacted long ago. Less than half of all families adopting internationally are protected by the Hague Adoption Convention process, and we want to make sure that we protect all families that open their homes and hearts to children in need of loving families. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I don't see the one individual who asked to join me in speaking on this, so I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 539, S. 3331.

I further ask unanimous consent that the Kerry amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to, and the Senate proceed to a voice vote on passage of the bill, as amended.

I further ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate, and that any statements relating to the measure be printed in the Record.