Congressman calls on State Department to work to resolve delayed adoptions with the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Washington, D.C. - After learning of the situation faced by a Dubuque couple who are adopting two children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) yesterday wrote Secretary of State John Kerry, urging the State Department to work with the Congolese government to resolve the situation.
"The Peats and other Iowa families have jumped through so many obstacles in order to provide a child with a loving home?and what's happening to them isn't fair," Braley said. "I'm hopeful the State Department can help finalize these adoptions and end this foot-dragging by the DRC that's causing families like the Peats so much pain."
Many families throughout the United States have completed the adoption process in the DRC courts. They were then 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.
"I urge you to put pressure on the DRC government to have the moratorium on exit letters lifted," Braley wrote.
Last October, Braley introduced the Children in Families First Act which helps streamline the adoption process by removing unnecessary bureaucratic barriers to international adoptions.
In 2012, Braley introduced the Making Adoption Affordable Act to make the adoption tax credit permanent.
The letter to Secretary Kerry is available HERE.
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