William Helms: “countless Americans will welcome the news that the Senate last night ratified the Treaty of the Hague Convention on…”

“countless Americans will welcome the news that the Senate last night ratified the Treaty of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. This Treaty was approved by our Foreign Relations Committee in April. In addition, the Senate also approved unanimous final passage of the Intercountry Adoption Implementation Act--which was likewise unanimously approved by the House of Representatives this past Monday. I offered the Intercountry Adoption Implementation act a year ago-- along with Senator Landrieu, because this legislation will provide, for the first time, a rational structure for intercountry adoption. Mr. President, this significant legislation is intended to build some accountability into agencies that provide intercountry adoption services in the United States while strengthening the hand of the Secretary of State in ensuring that U.S. adoption agencies engage in an ethical manner to find homes for children. In addition, Mr. President, both the Senate and the House agreed that sole responsibility for implementing the requirements of the Hague Convention, rests with the U.S. Secretary of State.”