Letter from Representative Jeb Bradley
Today the grape-vines again whispered and brought to us a letter by Representative Jeb Bradley, concerning Romania's earlier decision to close it's borders for international adoption. For those unfamiliar with the situation: At the time Romania decided to institute a moratorium on international adoption after years of what can be seen as an exodus of Romanian children. Upon instituting the moratorium there were several children already assigned to prospective adopters, but whose adoption was not finalized. These became known as so-called pipeline cases.
In this letter to Andrew Card, White House Chief of Staff, Representative Bradley urges action being taken to deliver those children to the prospective adopters. In a stunning reversal of facts he pleads to bring the children to their loving American families. Families those children have never met, have no relationship with, whatsoever. Only administratively those children were assigned to certain families. Furthermore he smears family preservation programs through which several of the children were brought back to their original families. This is a shameful piece of demagogy, we don't want to withhold our readers.
December 5, 2005
Dear Mr. Card:
The U.S. Department of State recently received from Romanian Secretary of State Theodora Bertzi a list of 101 adoption cases that were once open to American families and have now been closed. These orphans will not be transferred to their America families as previously promised by President Basescu. The State Department was told that of the 101 cases, 94 of the orphans had been adopted domestically. The remaining 7 children were adopted either by a Romanian relative or by an American family who had established residency in Romania. The status of the approximately 100 remaning cases is unknown. It is my fear that they have been placed with biological parents who had previously abandoned them, distant relatives who do not want them, or in unsuitable homes.
It is my understanding that the State Department has requested that Secretary Bertzi disclose the methods and criteria used to determine which children are no longer available for international adoption. It is completely unacceptable that the Romanian government has not been entirely forthcoming in this process. Furthermore, it is disheartening that these children were previously promised to American families and have now been placed domestically. It is particularly disconcerning that the Romanians have chosen to go against their word and have disregarded the ongoing support the United States has shown to Romania, particularly in improving their child welfare programs and helping to properly place their orphans.
My constituent, Allyson Schaaf, reveived a letter from Secretary Bertzi that attempts to marginalize the pending adoption cases as mere administrative oversights. This is unacceptable. I acknowlegde that the Romanians are under a gret deal of pressure from the European Union and former Rapporteur, Baroness Emma Nicholseon. However, that does not negate the promises of the Romanian government, in particular President Basescu, to transfer the approximately 200 orphans to their American families. Mrs Schaaf and I, along with other adoptive parents, met with President Basescu at the Romanian Embassy in March of this year. During that meeting, President Basescu made a promise to my constituent, Allyson Schaaf, and the other adoptive parents. That promise was to bring their Romanian children home to their loving parents in the United States. When he made this promise, President Basescu verbally commited the Romanian government to transferring the orphans to their loving American parents.
President Basescu and the Romanian government have failed to follow through on this promise. I reiteraate this because it is of great importance that Secretary Rice discussed this matter with President Basescu. The paruence of American families involved in this heart-wrenching dilemma had been nothing short of admirable. It is unfair to ask these families to wait any longer for their children. I trust that Ambassador Taubman, Secretary Rice, and the officials at our embassy in Bucharest will do everything in their power to hold the Romanians to this promise.
Due to urgency of this matter, I would appreciate and immediate update of the status of Mrs. Schaaf's daughter, [name and case number left out with respect to privacy of the child involved][case number 7795]
Sincerly
jeb Bradley
Member of Congress