Political Quotes

“I want to talk about a formula for heartbreak. The Indian Child Welfare Act was never intended to cause countless stories of heartbreak and tragedy. It was intended to protect native American culture from State agencies and officials who were, back in the early 1970's, removing children from their natural homes and, in many cases without due process of law, placing them outside the Indian culture. This was shameful. Mr. Speaker, the Congress acted in 1978. The legislation, the ICWA, was well-intended, but it has been applied in a twisting and inaccurate way by some courts throughout this country that is equally shameful. The result of these misguided applications of the ICWA has had a chilling effect on all adoptions. I came to learn of the chilling effect from a couple in my district in Columbus, OH. Since then, I have come to learn of many, many more cases. For example, Mr. Speaker, the Indian Child Welfare Act was never intended to rip a little girl from her family of almost 6 years, but this happened.”