Congressman writes open letter to Secretary of State John Kerry
Washington, D.C. - After months of pressuring the Congolese and American governments to make progress on an impasse that halted all adoptions between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United States, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today called on Iowans to help him pressure Secretary of State John Kerry to make solving this issue a top priority.
Braley paid special attention to case of Michael and Erin Peat of Dubuque, who had the adoption of their two children halted during the final stage of the process.
"I want the State Department and the Congolese government to understand that this is an issue that people care deeply about throughout our entire state," Braley said. "Iowa stands behind the Peats and hundreds of other families that are being kept apart from their children?and I'm going to continue doing everything I can to keep up the pressure until this issue is resolved."
Braley is asking Iowans to co-sign his letter to Secretary Kerry on his website at braley.house.gov.
"No child should be denied a loving home because of bureaucratic paperwork," the letter reads.
The State Department announced this week that the Congolese government would issue a total of 62 'exit letters'?15 of which would be issued to American families?but the overwhelming majority of U.S. families have received no update from the Congolese government and their adoptions remain in limbo.
Approximately 460 families have had their adoptions suspended, but the Peats are one of only about 50 families that have had it occur at such a late stage in the process. They were granted their adoption visa by the United States. However, the DRC suddenly refused to issue exit letters, which is the final step allowing families to bring their children to the United States.
Braley has written the Congolese Prime Minister, The Congolese Ambassador to the United States, and Secretary of State John Kerry calling for a resolution to this issue.
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