More than 400 American families. approximately 20 of them from Kentucky. have successfully adopted children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. or the DRC. However. due to the DRC Governments yearslong suspension of exit permits. many of these families have been unable to bring their adoptive children home to the United States. To make matters worse. families have been financially burdened by the cost of continually renewing their childrens visas while they wait for the day the DRC decides to lift its suspension. In an attempt to help these families. the Adoptive Family Relief Act would provide meaningful financial relief by granting the State Department authority to waive the fees for multiple visa renewals in these and other extraordinary adoption circumstances. This bill builds on Congress bipartisan efforts on the adoption issue. including my amendment to this years budget resolution to encourage a solution to the situation as well as numerous bipartisan congressional letters sent to Congolese officials. Later today I will have the opportunity to meet with the Brock family from Owensboro.
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visa visas