Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on the two-year anniversary of the suspension of exit permits for internationally adopted children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC):

“Today marks two heartbreaking years that American families have been unable to bring their legally adopted child home from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Several hundred families are hostage to a terribly flawed and politicized Congolese adoption process.  Many have suffered great hardship.  Caught in the middle are vulnerable Congolese children who are prevented from joining their loving families anxiously waiting in nearly every state, including California.  They are living in poor and even horrible conditions.  The Committee will continue to use all the resources at its disposal – including legislation – until every adoptive child in the DRC is living with their family.”

NOTE: Last year, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 588, which urges the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to resume international adoptions.  Chairman Royce met with over 50 families adopting from the DRC who are directly impacted by the current suspension of exit permits.  The meeting followed a letter Chairman Royce and 167 Members of Congress sent Congolese President Joseph Kabila and Prime Minister Augustin Motata Manyo urging them to issue exit letters for the stalled adoption cases.

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