In a concerted move to shore up the integrity of the adoption process and shield families from exploitation, U.S. Senators spanning the political spectrum have unveiled the bipartisan ADOPT Act. According to a statement from Senator Marsha Blackburn's office, the legislation seeks to firmly prohibit unlicensed intermediaries, often referred to as "baby brokers," from advertising and providing compensation-based private adoption services. Co-sponsored by a range of senators, including Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), the bill aims to make sure adoptive parents are only dealing with professionals licensed within their respective states.
Senator Blackburn emphasized the necessity of this act when she was quoted as saying, "Unlicensed ‘baby brokers’ are exploiting vulnerable Americans who hope to adopt a child and grow their families." Alongside Blackburn's statements, Senator Klobuchar added, "Adoption changes lives — for kids and adoptive parents alike. Unfortunately, unlicensed ‘baby brokers’ prey on vulnerable mothers and families, hurting everyone in the process." These comments underline the bill's intention to definitively combat such exploitation.
Furthermore, the ADOPT Act would restrict payments to expectant mothers unless made through a licensed provider in the state where the mother resides, aiming to ensure transparency and safeguard the well-being of all parties involved in the adoption process. The legislation arrives with endorsements from key adoption organizations, such as the National Council for Adoption and the Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys.
Ryan Hanlon, president and CEO of the National Council for Adoption, hailed the act, stating it "better ensures expectant mothers contemplating adoption have a trustworthy team around them." In concordance, Genie Miller Gillespie, Adoption Policy Director of AAAA, voiced support, asserting that "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." These endorsements signal a broad coalition backing the legislative push to rigorously adopt safeguards against the unethical practices linked to unregulated adoption intermediaries.
The ADOPT Act's legislative journey will now proceed, with a companion bill also introduced in the House, supported by representatives across the partisan divide, including Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) and Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.). Advocates hope that this bipartisan effort will result in tighter oversight over the adoption industry and provide families with the assurance that their vulnerable moments of adopting a child are not exploited by unregulated entities.
