Robert Smith: “I thank the Chair for this opportunity to recognize the month of November as National Adoption Month and to speak on…”

“I thank the Chair for this opportunity to recognize the month of November as National Adoption Month and to speak on this very important issue--one that is very close to my heart--and is at the very heart of my own family. As legislators, we work to enact laws to improve and protect the lives of the American people. However, there are occasions when our policies can hurt the very people we are trying to protect. In this instance, it is our children. Last year, in my State of Oregon, 221 parents adopted children from foreign countries, including China, Romania, Korea, India, and Thailand. During that same year, Congress passed the Immigration and Nationality Act that included a provision which, until now, seemed rather innocuous. But for parents like Gary and Laurie Hunter from Myrtle Creek, OR, who are adopting a daughter from China, it has become a bitter pill in the adoption process. Simply, the provision requires that all incoming immigrants receive certain immunizations before entering the United States. While this may seem like a logical public health law, it raises serious concerns about the health and safety of children receiving vaccinations under substandard conditions in foreign countries.”