BISMARCK, N.D. – The People’s Republic of China (PRC) halted all international adoptions, except those between blood relatives, in August 2024. Approximately 300 children in the PRC had been matched with American families prior to the announcement. 

Co-chairs of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption, U.S. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and U.S. Representatives Robert Aderholt (R-AL-04) and Danny Davis (D-IL-07), along with U.S. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), sent a bipartisan, bicameral letter to President Trump requesting he engage the Chinese government to finalize the pending adoption cases.

“The sudden termination of China’s adoption program in August 2024 only exacerbated our concern for these children’s well-being,” the senators wrote. “Many of these children have special health care needs, and some will soon age out of care systems without the support of a permanent family. It is particularly critical that these children have access to the care and support that they need — which hundreds of American families approved for adoption are willing to provide.

“We understand that the State Department is working on behalf of these families and seeking clarity on the Chinese government’s decision,” the senators concluded. “We urge you to elevate this engagement and press the Chinese government to finalize pending adoption cases so these children may finally be united with their adoptive families in the United States.”

This follows similar efforts requesting President Biden intervene and urge the PRC to complete pending adoptions and requesting the Department of State seek further clarification on the details and reasoning for China’s decision.

Cosigners from the Senate include U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Susan Collins (R-ME), Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Curtis (R-UT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Angus King (I-ME), James Lankford (R-OK), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Tina Smith (D-MN), Dan Sullivan (R-AK), John Thune (R-SD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Todd Young (R-IN).

Cosigners from the House include U.S. Representatives Brian Babin (R-TX-36), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05), Vern Buchanan (R-FL-16), Tim Burchett (R-TN-02), Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), Dan Crenshaw (R-TX-02), Suzan DelBene (D-WA-01), Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04), Julie Fedorchak (R-ND-00), Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Charles Fleischmann (R-TN-03), Tony Gonzales (R-TX-23), Sam Graves (R-MO-06), Mark Green (R-TN-07), H. Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09), Glenn Grothman (R-WI-06), Brett Guthrie (R-KY-02), Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08), Diana Harshbarger (R-TN-01), Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02), Erin Houchin (R-IN-09), Julie Johnson (D-TX-32), Thomas Kean (R-NJ-07), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL-08), Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), Julia Letlow (R-LA-05), Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11), Richard McCormick (R-GA-07), Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03), Mark Messmer (R-IN-08), Carol Miller (R-WV-01), Ralph Norman (R-SC-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-00), Zachary Nunn (R-IA-03), Andrew Ogles (R-TN-05), Bob Onder (R-MO-03), Gary Palmer (R-AL-06), Brittany Pettersen (D-CO-07), August Pfluger (R-TX-11), Jamie Raskin (D-MD-08), John Rutherford (R-FL-05), Hillary Scholten (D-MI-03), Keith Self (R-TX-03), Jefferson Shreve (R-IN-06), Adam Smith (D-WA-09), Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11), Eric Sorensen (D-IL-17), Greg Stanton (D-AZ-04), Pete Stauber (R-MN-08), Haley Stevens (D-MI-11), Eric Swalwell (D-CA-14), William Timmons (R-SC-04), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Paul Tonko (D-NY-20), and Daniel Webster (R-FL-11).

Click here for the letter.