Intercountry Adoptions

Floor Speech

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Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, recently, we witnessed China peddling false claims as it continues to try and convince the United States that China is a good partner. China has recently claimed that ``the Chinese always honor and deliver what has been promised.'' What China asserted is nonsense. Nobody ought to believe that the promises made are honored.

So I want to give you one example: intercountry adoptions.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, China ``temporarily'' restricted travel into the country, which stalled hundreds of families from completing their adoptions. Today, the families I mentioned continue to be separated from their adoptive child in China or are learning that the child they have been matched with for many years has been rematched with a different family in China. The latter is the case for the Robinson family of Iowa.

Does that sound like China always honors and delivers what it promises? I think not.

In September of last year, I wrote to the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, outlining my concerns about China's termination of its intercountry adoption program and urged China to not go back on its promises, but, instead, allow for matched adoptions to finally be completed. That has not happened.

It is a positive development that Chinese families have a stronger will and capacity to adopt orphans within their own country. Children having a safe and loving home is always a good thing. But my point of contention is that China left American families in the dark and didn't engage in good faith. American families were not given the same opportunity as families from other countries to be united with their children. Real commitments were made, and they were dismissed. This brought disruption to families and needlessly left children orphaned.

Again, I suggest China doesn't honor its commitments, and I pray that the hearts of Chinese leaders experience a transformation.

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