NASHVILLE, Tenn. - U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R. Tenn.) joined Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and their Senate colleagues in introducing the bipartisan Adoption Deserves Oversight, Protection, and Transparency (ADOPT) Act to protect adoptive families, children, and expectant mothers from exploitation by unlicensed adoption intermediaries. This legislation would ensure that adoption providers and attorneys operate only in states where they are licensed to do so.

“Unlicensed ‘baby brokers’ are exploiting vulnerable Americans who hope to adopt a child and grow their families,” said Senator Blackburn. “Our bipartisan ADOPT Act would protect expectant mothers and adoptive families from exploitation by ensuring they have access to licensed and trustworthy providers in their states.”

“Adoption changes lives — for kids and adoptive parents alike. Unfortunately, unlicensed ‘baby brokers’ prey on vulnerable mothers and families, hurting everyone in the process,” said Senator Klobuchar, co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption. “That’s why Senator Britt and I are introducing the bipartisan ADOPT Act, which protects expecting mothers and adoptive families from exploitation by ensuring that parents pursuing private, domestic adoption are working with trusted, licensed professionals.”

This legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Katie Britt (R.-Ala.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Jon Husted (R-Ohio). Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.), Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.), Laurel Lee (R-Fla.), and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.). 

THE ADOPT ACT

The ADOPT Act would protect adoptive families, children, and expectant mothers from exploitation by:

• Prohibiting adoption advertising and the provision of private adoption services for compensation by any entity not licensed as a child-placing agency or attorney; and

• Restricting payments to expectant mothers unless made through a provider licensed in the state where the expectant mother resides.

ENDORSEMENTS

The ADOPT Act is endorsed by leading adoption organizations, including the National Council For Adoption (NCFA), Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA), Ethical Family Building, Adoptees United, and Families Rising.

“The ADOPT Act better ensures expectant mothers contemplating adoption have a trustworthy team around them, and that they have all the information and resources available to them before deciding whether to place their child for adoption," says Ryan Hanlon, president and CEO of National Council For Adoption. "What's more, the ADOPT Act will spare prospective adoptive families—many of whom consider adoption after a painful infertility journey—time, resources and the heartbreak that so often accompanies signing with a predatory, unlicensed adoption intermediary.”

“The Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys (AAAA) applauds efforts to protect adoptive families and children during the adoption process, by ensuring they are served by licensed adoption professionals, with appropriate oversight and transparency,” said Genie Miller Gillespie, Adoption Policy Director of AAAA. “Welcoming a child into a family through adoption is a tremendous and joyous event; the legal process behind that adoption must match the magnitude of the event. Ensuring the guardrails of the legal process are maintained and that all parties to an adoption are protected will help ensure that families do not have their hopes exploited. The ADOPT Act is an important step in protecting families and children.”

“The ADOPT ACT delivers long-overdue safeguards for vulnerable women, families, and children by combatting the exploitation carried out by unlicensed adoption intermediaries, and by ensuring that both expectant parents considering adoption and families hoping to adopt receive compassionate, qualified support,” said Celeste Liversidge, Executive Director of Ethical Family Building. “The Bill further reinforces essential protections for adopted children, whose long-term well-being must remain at the center of every adoption decision.”

Click here for bill text.