North Korean Child Welfare Act of 2012

Bill: 112-hr-1464
Sponsor: Rep. Royce, Edward R. [R-CA-40]
Introduced: 2011-04-08 in the House
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Adoption and foster care
Asia
Child safety and welfare
China
North Korea
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
South Korea

Summary:
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: 
North Korean Refugee Adoption Act of 2011 - Directs the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy for facilitating the adoption of North Korean children by U.S. citizens.

action_date: 2012-09-11
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)

 
North Korean Refugee Adoption Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy for facilitating the adoption of North Korean children by U.S. citizens.
 
Directs the Secretary to: 
 
 
consider the challenges that U.S. citizens would encounter in adopting children from North Korea who are living in Hague countries and non-Hague countries regardless of their legal status; 
 
 
 
propose solutions to dealing with the situation in which a North Korean refugee child does not have access to a competent authority in the foreign-sending country; 
 
 
 
propose solutions to dealing with North Korean refugee children who are not considered habitual residents of the countries in which they are located; 
 
 
 
evaluate alternative mechanisms for foreign-sending countries to prove that North Korean refugee children are orphans when documentation is missing or destroyed; 
 
 
 
provide suggestions for working with South Korea to establish programs that identify, provide for the immediate care of, assist in the family reunification of, and assist in the international adoption of orphaned North Korean children in South Korea; 
 
 
 
provide suggestions for working with international adoption agencies and aid organizations in Asia to establish programs for the identification, immediate care, family reunification, and international adoption of North Korean orphans living outside North Korea; 
 
 
 
 identify other nations in which large numbers of stateless, orphaned children are living who might be helped by international adoption; and 
 
 
 
propose solutions for assisting orphaned children with Chinese fathers and North Korean mothers who are living in China and have no access to Chinese or North Korean resources. 
 
 
Requires a related report to Congress.

action_date: 2012-12-28
text: 
North Korean Child WelfareAct of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of State to designate a representative to regularly brief Congress on U.S. efforts to advocate for the best interests of North Korean children and children of one North Korean parent, including efforts to address the adoption of such children living outside North Korea without parental care.
 Directs such designee to address the Department of State's: (1) analysis of the challenges facing North Korean children residing outside North Korea and challenges facing children of one North Korean parent in other countries who are fleeing persecution or are living as de jure or de facto stateless persons (such North Korean children); (2) efforts to advocate for the best interest of such North Korean children, including family reunification efforts and the adoption of North Korean children living outside North Korea and children of one North Korean parent living outside North Korea; (3) efforts to address challenges that U.S. citizens would encounter in attempting to adopt such North Korean children, including efforts to overcome the complexities involved in best interest determinations and adoption processing of those who habitually reside in a Hague country or a non-Hague country; (4) diplomatic efforts to encourage countries in which North Korean children or children of one North Korean parent are fleeing persecution or reside as de jure or de facto stateless persons to resolve issues of statelessness of North Koreans residing in that country; and (5) efforts to work with the Republic of Korea to establish pilot programs that assist in the family reunification of North Korean children and children of one North Korean parent living within South Korea and other countries who are fleeing persecution or are living as de jure or de facto stateless persons.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on December 28, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
North Korean Child Welfare Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of State to designate a representative to regularly brief Congress on U.S. efforts to advocate for the best interests of North Korean children and children of one North Korean parent, including efforts to address the adoption of such children living outside North Korea without parental care.
 Directs such designee to address the Department of State's: (1) analysis of the challenges facing North Korean children residing outside North Korea and challenges facing children of one North Korean parent in other countries who are fleeing persecution or are living as de jure or de facto stateless persons (such North Korean children); (2) efforts to advocate for the best interest of such North Korean children, including family reunification efforts and the adoption of North Korean children living outside North Korea and children of one North Korean parent living outside North Korea; (3) efforts to address challenges that U.S. citizens would encounter in attempting to adopt such North Korean children, including efforts to overcome the complexities involved in best interest determinations and adoption processing of those who habitually reside in a Hague country or a non-Hague country; (4) diplomatic efforts to encourage countries in which North Korean children or children of one North Korean parent are fleeing persecution or reside as de jure or de facto stateless persons to resolve issues of statelessness of North Koreans residing in that country; and (5) efforts to work with the Republic of Korea to establish pilot programs that assist in the family reunification of North Korean children and children of one North Korean parent living within South Korea and other countries who are fleeing persecution or are living as de jure or de facto stateless persons.

Legislative actions:
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Became Public Law No: 112-264.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Became Public Law No: 112-264.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-01-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2013-01-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-01-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2013-01-01
text: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-01-01
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2013-01-01
text: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H7521)
action_date: 2013-01-01
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments Agreed to without objection.(text as House agreed to Senate amendment: CR H7521)
action_date: 2013-01-01
text: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments. (consideration: CR H7520-7521)
action_date: 2012-12-30
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2012-12-28
text: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-12-28
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-12-28
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S8516)
action_date: 2012-12-28
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-12-28
text: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2012-09-12
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5842-5843)
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5842-5843)
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1464.
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5842-5844)
action_date: 2012-09-11
text: Ms. Ros-Lehtinen moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-04-08
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 112-264