Mitch Landrieu: “I make note tonight of a very significant event which occurred today in the Capitol. We were able to pass legislation…”

“I make note tonight of a very significant event which occurred today in the Capitol. We were able to pass legislation from the Foreign Relations Committee, under the leadership of the chairman of that committee, Chairman Jesse Helms, The Hague Convention on International Adoption. The reason I mention it particularly tonight is that we will be taking up this implementation legislation when we return--hopefully, soon after we return. Then we will be considering a very important treaty under the same title. There are many hundreds of leaders in Washington today from the Joint Council on International Children's Services and with the National Council for Adoption who have worked literally for years to bring us to this point. I also commend our partners in the House, Congressman Delahunt from Massachusetts, Congressman Burr, and Congressman Gejdenson from Connecticut who worked very hard on this who were terrific leaders. Sixty-six countries participated in this ground-breaking document. There were 37 signatories, and to date 29 countries have ratified. I particularly mention Mexico and Romania as two of the earliest countries. Since the United States receives more children in this country through adoption than all other countries combined, and since we pride ourselves on being a leader in this particular area, I think it is very significant that we step forward, pass this legislation, and ratify this treaty.”