Donald Norcross: “I thank Representative Manning for yielding. I rise in support of H. Res. 915. I rise today for the Ukrainian children…”

“I thank Representative Manning for yielding. I rise in support of H. Res. 915. I rise today for the Ukrainian children, those without a family, and for the Americans who wish to give them one. It has been over 1,000 days since Russia invaded Ukraine. Ukraine suspended adoptions, for obvious reasons, by foreign nationals to protect the safety of their children, but as this war continues, the need to place these children in loving homes only grows. Many Americans were in the process of adopting, some of those stories we just heard. These kids are stuck in limbo as war rages on. In my home State of New Jersey, Andres and Farrah Meha were right in the middle of the process of adopting two of these children. They had formed strong bonds with these kids, and they had hosted them in their homes. Right before this was going to work its way through the bureaucracy, an invasion began and changed everything. A few weeks later, those children had to return to Ukraine because of what Putin did and when war arrived in their home cities. {time} 1415 That is why I am urging the Ukrainian Government to resume adoptions by American citizens. There are no allies stronger than the U.S. Families across the U.S. stand ready with open arms to provide a healthy, safe, and stable environment for these children who deserve better. I thank Ray Lesniak, who called me up to remind me that we need this passed. He is a wonderful friend whom I have served with in the New Jersey Senate.…”