Ernst, Grassley Call for POTUS to Engage on Stalled U.S.-China Adoptions

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) urged President Biden to stand up for families navigating the People’s Republic of China's (PRC) decision to end intercountry adoptions for those without Chinese familial ties.

In the letter, the lawmakers noted that approximately 300 children in the PRC – some with various health conditions – are already paired with families in the United States, including Iowans who have been waiting in the final stages of the adoption process for years.

“We request that you act in the best interest of these children and families by urging the PRC to fulfill and uphold the commitment the country has made,” the lawmakers wrote.

“The American families that have been matched with their adoptive children are prepared to meet their long-term medical and emotional needs, and to give them the love and nurturing they need,” they continued. “Many of these children know that they have a home, which in many cases have been prepared for their arrival since the families were notified that they were matched and moving forward with the adoption process.”

After the State Department noticed last week that the PRC may complete adoptions for families in some countries, the legislators called on President Biden to ensure such an action would pertain to the United States, too.

Read the full letter here.

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