Political Quotes

“I rise today with just one illustration of the absolute tragedy and heartbreak being experienced right now by countless children and their families due to the misapplication of the Indian Child Welfare Act, or ICWA. A couple from my district in Columbus, OH, adopted twin girls. Both biological parents consented and even chose this family that they wanted the girls to be placed with. After 6 months, as they went on to finalize the adoption, they found out that it was being contested under ICWA, which gives the tribe the final say in custody proceedings involving Indian children. Although only one of the twins great-great-great-grandparents was native American, a judge in California ruled that that was enough to trigger ICWA. These stories are commonplace and have to end. As a result of this misapplication of the law, two little girls almost 3 years old now still await the permanence and stability of the only family they have ever known, and they fear what fate might await them at the hands of the court. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Adoption Stability Act of 1996.”