Peace Garden News

The People's Republic of China halted all international adoptions, except those between blood relatives, in August 2024. This decision affected approximately 300 children who had been matched with American families before the announcement.

In response, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), along with U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04) and Danny Davis (D-IL-07), co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, sent a bipartisan letter to President Trump. The letter urges him to engage with the Chinese government to finalize these pending adoption cases.

"The sudden termination of China’s adoption program in August 2024 only exacerbated our concern for these children’s well-being," the letter states. It emphasizes that many of these children have special health care needs and may soon age out of care systems without 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."

The letter also acknowledges efforts by the State Department on behalf of these families and calls for increased engagement from President Trump: "We urge you to elevate this engagement and press the Chinese government to finalize pending adoption cases so these children may finally be united with their adoptive families in the United States."

This initiative follows similar requests made earlier for President Biden's intervention and clarity from the Department of State regarding China's decision.

Numerous senators signed the letter, including Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ) among others.

Representatives from the House also joined as cosigners, including Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Andy Biggs(R-AZ -05 ), Vern Buchanan(R-FL -16 ), Tim Burchett(R-TN -02 ), Kat Cammack(R-FL -03 ) among others.