IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 24 
Expressing the deep disappointment of the House of Representatives in the 
enactment by the Russia Government of a law ending inter-country 
adoptions of Russian children by United States citizens and urging 
the Russia Government to reconsider the law and prioritize the processing 
of inter-country adoptions involving parentless Russian children who were 
already matched with United States families before the enactment of 
the law. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 14, 2013 
Mrs. BACHMANN (for herself, Ms. BASS, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Ms. JACKSON 
LEE, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. TIBERI, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. NUNNELEE, 
Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. MARINO, Mr. HUIZENGA 
of Michigan, and Mr. PALAZZO) submitted the following resolution; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing the deep disappointment of the House of Rep-
resentatives in the enactment by the Russia Government 
of a law ending inter-country adoptions of Russian chil-
dren by United States citizens and urging the Russia 
Government to reconsider the law and prioritize the proc-
essing of inter-country adoptions involving parentless 
Russian children who were already matched with United 
States families before the enactment of the law. 
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•HRES 24 IH 
Whereas United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) esti-
mates that there are 740,000 children in Russia living 
without parental care; 
Whereas the Ministry of Science and Education of Russia es-
timates that 110,000 children live in state institutions in 
Russia; 
Whereas the number of adoptions by Russian families is mod-
est, with only 7,400 domestic adoptions in 2011 com-
pared with 3,400 adoptions of Russian children by fami-
lies abroad; 
Whereas, on December 28, 2012, Russian Federation Presi-
dent Vladimir Putin signed into law legislation entitled 
‘‘On Measures Concerning the Implementation of Govern-
ment Policy on Orphaned Children and those without Pa-
rental Care’’, which includes language that permanently 
bans adoptions of Russian children by United States citi-
zens; 
Whereas a spokesman for President Putin, Dmitry Peskov, 
announced that the law is to take effect on January 1, 
2013, thereby abrogating the bilateral agreement between 
Russia and the United States that entered into force on 
November 1, 2012, and requires both countries to pro-
vide one year notice of intent to terminate the agreement; 
Whereas 46, and possibly more, inter-country adoptions of 
Russian children by United States families have already 
received a final adoption decree from the Russia judicial 
system, and hundreds of other United States families are 
in the process of adopting Russian children; 
Whereas United Nations Children’s Fund released a state-
ment urging the Russia Government to ensure that ‘‘the 
current plight of the many Russian children in institu-
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•HRES 24 IH 
tions receives priority attention’’ and that the Russia 
Government consider alternatives to institutionalization 
including ‘‘domestic adoption and inter-country adop-
tion’’; 
Whereas the United Nations, the Hague Conference on Pri-
vate International Law, and other international organiza-
tions have recognized a child’s right to a family as a 
basic human right worthy of protection; 
Whereas the Christian Alliance for Orphans reports that 
United States families have opened their homes to more 
than 179,000 orphans from overseas in the last 20 years; 
Whereas after China and Ethiopia, Russia is the third most 
popular country for United States citizens who adopt 
internationally; 
Whereas adoption, both domestic and international, is an im-
portant child protection tool and an integral part of child 
welfare best practices around the world, along with pre-
vention of abandonment and family reunification; and 
Whereas more than 60,000 Russia-born children have found 
safe, permanent, and loving homes with United States 
families over the last two decades: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) affirms that all children deserve a perma-
nent, protective family; 
(2) values the long tradition of the United 
States and Russia Governments working together to 
find permanent homes for unparented children; 
(3) disapproves of the Russia law ending inter- 
country adoptions of Russian children by United 
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•HRES 24 IH 
States citizens because it primarily harms vulnerable 
and voiceless children; and 
(4) strongly urges the Russia Government to 
reconsider the law on humanitarian grounds, in con-
sideration of the well-being of parentless Russian 
children awaiting a loving and permanent family, 
and prioritize the processing of inter-country adop-
tions of Russian children by United States citizens 
that were initiated before the enactment of the law. 
Æ 
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