National Council For Adoption Endorses ADOPT Act—Applauds Bipartisan, Bicameral Legislation

Alexandria, VA — The team at National Council For Adoption (NCFA) endorses legislation introduced this week that, if enacted, would safeguard expectant mothers, fathers and prospective adoptive families from predatory and exploitative unlicensed adoption brokers.

“The ADOPT Act better ensures expectant mothers considering adoption have a trustworthy team around them and all the information and resources available to them before deciding whether to place their child for adoption,” says Ryan Hanlon, president and CEO of National Council For Adoption.

The legislation prohibits unlicensed adoption intermediaries from running paid advertising in states where they aren’t licensed and would cap payments made by unauthorized entities to expectant mothers.

Without licensure and the safeguards that come with it, unlicensed brokers prey on expectant mothers to ‘match’ with a prospective adoptive family. Brokers make a match and take a payday, even if the placement unravels, leaving prospective adoptive families bereft of financial resources.

“The ADOPT Act will save prospective adoptive families—many of whom consider adoption after a painful infertility journey—time, resources and additional heartbreak in the event a placement falls apart after signing with a predatory unlicensed adoption intermediary.

The bill was introduced in the House by Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) and co-sponsored by Reps. Danny Davis (D-Ill.), Laurel Lee (R-Fla.) and Sydney Kamlager-Dove (R-Calif.). It was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), and cosponsored by Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), and Jon Husted (R-Ohio).

“Adoption changes lives — for kids and adoptive parents alike. Unfortunately, unlicensed ‘baby brokers’ prey on vulnerable mothers and families, hurting everyone in the process,” said Sen. Klobuchar, co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Coalition on Adoption.

Unlicensed intermediaries for too long have gotten away with preying on vulnerable expectant mothers and prospective adoptive families. This legislation helps change that problem and ensures adoption remains a trusted pathway for children in need to find shelter in loving, permanent families.

As Rep. Aderholt says, “The ADOPT Act ensures that adoption providers operate aboveboard and within the law. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation to protect families and children from bad practices and to promote responsible, caring adoption services.”

Rep. Lee, a former prosecutor, echoes Rep. Aderholt’s sentiments, saying “I’m proud to join Congressman Aderholt in introducing the ADOPT Act to strengthen oversight, stop bad actors, and ensure every child and every family is supported by ethical, responsible adoption practices. This legislation brings much-needed safeguards to a system that must always put children first.”

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About National Council For Adoption

Founded in 1980, NCFA is a leading authoritative voice for adoption and is passionately committed to the belief that every child deserves to thrive in a nurturing permanent family. NCFA’s nonprofit work promotes a culture of adoption through education, research, advocacy and collaboration that aims to serve children, expectant parents, birth parents, adoptees, adoptive families, adoption professionals, policymakers, and all others impacted by adoption. adoptioncouncil.org

MEDIA CONTACT: Carolyn Bolton, 703-299-6633, cbolton@adoptioncouncil.org