The last few weeks of May often involve frenetic work to pass legislation in many state legislatures. It’s also when crucial support is needed from everyone who is engaged in adoptee rights work or who wish to support adoptee rights in the United States. We need your help today. Be an advocate, supporter, ally, and trusted friend. Take action today and throughout this National Week of Action for Adoptee Rights.
Ongoing: The Adoptee Citizenship Act • Massachusetts
Ongoing Actions: Adoptee Citizenship Act | Massachusetts
Completed/Inactive: Arizona | Connecticut | | Rhode Island | Texas
ONGOING. Pass the Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2021
Background and Issue
The Adoptee Citizenship Act of 2021 is a critical piece of federal legislation that closes a discriminatory loophole in US immigration law, one that denies U.S. citizenship to thousands of intercountry adoptees who decades ago were legally adopted by U.S. citizen parents. The loophole relates primarily to the age of the adoptee, denying automatic citizenship to those born prior to February 27, 1983, though other loopholes continue to exist. It remains a critical piece of legislation that must be enacted this Congressional session.
Action Needed
Contact your Congressional representatives today to request support and their co-sponsorship of the Adoptee Citizenship Act. If your representatives are already supportive, thank them and ask what you can do to make the ACA a reality. Suggested language and a list of US Senators and Representatives is here (or click on the button below). I encourage every person to contact their representatives to express support for this crucial equal rights bill.
ONGOING. Massachusetts: Pass S1440
Background and Issue
At a grand total of thirteen words, S1440 (and its companion H2294) is one of the simplest equal rights bills for adoptees ever. Yet each year it dies in the state senate. The bill does one thing: removes a date-based restriction that discriminates against adopted people born between July 17, 1974, and January 1, 2008. The bill is simple, fair, and reestablishes equality for all adoptees in the state. It’s time the Senate bring the bill to a vote. The votes are there.
Action Needed
Contact leadership in the Massachusetts Senate to express your support of S1440 and to request that the bill be brought out of committee and set for a vote in the full Senate. Suggested language and a contact information is provided (click on the button below). You do not need to be a Massachusetts resident to support this bill. If you are, however, your voice is doubly important and you should indicate that you are a Massachusetts voter. And if you are impacted by the bill you should also include that information.
DONE! Connecticut HB6105 Passes!
This action is COMPLETE and no longer active. The Connecticut Senate passed HB6105 on May 25 and the bill will be sent to Governor Ned Lamont for signature and final enactment. Congratulations to Access Connecticut and to all the Connecticut adoptees and allies who made this a reality.
Background and Issue
Advocates in Connecticut have been working for years to close a date-based restriction in current law. That law denies the right of any adoptee born before October 1, 1983, to request and obtain their own original birth record. This year Access Connecticut is on the verge of success after House passage of HB6105 on a 115-28 vote. The bill is now on the Senate calendar for potential consideration, but the session is scheduled to adjourn on June 9. Urgent action is needed to push the bill to a vote and enactment.
Action Needed
Contact Connecticut State senators to express your support for HB6105 and to ask for a YES vote on the bill when it comes before the Senate for a vote. Inform legislators that the bill has widespread bipartisan support, not only among legislators but from multiple organizations connected to adoption. Suggested language and a list of Connecticut senators to contact is here (or click on the button below). Connecticut residents are key in expressing support, but I encourage all adoptees and their allies to ask Senators to vote YES on HB6105.
ON HOLD. Rhode Island: Enact S250/H6189!
This action is on hold until potential non-discriminatory amendments to the bills are considered by the bills’ sponsors.
Background and Issue
These bills do three things: 1) lowers the current age for an adult adopted person to request their original birth certificate from 25 to 18; 2) adds the right of direct-line descendants to request a copy of the OBC if the adopted person is deceased; and 3) makes the OBC available from the date of birth for adoptees who are born on or after July 1, 2021. Both bills are in committee after hearings on the bills, and legislative leadership in both chambers control whether the bills are reported out for consideration and final vote.
Action Needed
Contact leadership in both the Rhode Island Senate and House to request that the bills be brought out of committee and set for a vote in the each chamber. Suggested language and a list of Senate and House leaders to contact is here (or click on the button below). You do not need to be a Massachusetts resident to support this bill. If you are, however, your voice is doubly important and you should indicate that you are a Rhode Island voter.
DONE! Arizona: HB2070 is VETOED
Background and Issue
This bill creates a discriminatory donut hole in the law, dividing Arizona-born adoptees into two piles: the haves and the have nots. HB2070, if enacted, would deny any right to request and obtain the OBC to adopted people whose adoptions were finalized between June 20, 1968, and December 2021, creating a “donut hole” for the vast majority of Arizona adoptees. It is moving to the Senate floor for a vote as soon as this week. Urgent action is necessary to defeat this discriminatory bill.
Action Needed
VETOED! While HB2070 has now been vetoed by the Governor for largely political purposes unrelated to the bill’s content, the already long-extended session continues. While the bill is dead, I will still watch the legislature carefully to ensure that text from the vetoed bill does not appear in a larger state budget bill. Nice work everyone!
DONE. Texas SB1877
Background and Issue
Multiple organizations are working together to enact HB1386/SB1877, a simple and straightforward bill that restores the right of all Texas-born adopted people to request and obtain their own original birth certificates. HB1386 already passed the Texas House 144-1, and action is needed to get the legislation out of a Senate committee and to the floor for a vote in the full Senate. The Texas legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 31.
Action Needed
Update: The Texas legislature did not consider SB1877 in Senate Committee on Jurisprudence and the bill is now considered dead for the 2021 session. The next Texas legislative session is in 2023. I encourage any Texas adoptees and their supports and allies to sign up with Texas Adoptee Rights Coalition to help with continuing work and to receive more detailed updates.
Resources
Adoptees United Inc. provides analysis of pending legislation as well as constant updates on active bills. Click on a state with an active bill (marked by dark blue) for more information or go to the page that provides updates on federal legislation impacting adult adopted people is also listed on the AU website.
2021 Legislation