S. 1934 · 108th Congress

ICARE Act

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IntroducedPassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law (gold)Resolution agreed to (full, dark)Failed or vetoed (gray)

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Never voted on. It didn't reach a floor vote before the 108th Congress ended, so it expired. A bill has to be introduced again to be considered in a new Congress.

R NicklesSponsor

12 cosponsors · 6 D, 6 R

5 signed on when it was introduced; the rest joined later. Cosponsors who withdrew aren't shown.

Intercountry Adoption Reform Act of 2003 or ICARE Act - Establishes an Office of Intercountry Adoptions within the Department of State (DOS). Requires the President to appoint an Ambassador at Large to head the Office.

What it does: CRS summary · Introduced in Senate · Nov 23, 2003

Transfers to the Office all immigration functions with respect to intercountry adoptions currently performed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to grant automatic U.S. citizenship to internationally adopted children upon entry of a full and final adoption decree (thus dispensing with the need for such children to obtain visas).

Creates a new W nonimmigrant visa category for children traveling to the United States to be adopted by U.S. citizens.

Allows adopted children age 18 or under to claim an exception to immunization requirements for purposes of admissibility (currently limited to those age 10 or under).

Redefines the term "adoptable child."

Requires U.S. citizen adoptive parents to obtain approval of an adoption petition prior to issuance of a W visa or a full and final adoption decree. Provides that such petitions are subject to the terms applicable to orphan petitions. Directs the Ambassador to issue regulations: (1) establishing an expedited reapproval process for families whose prior approvals to adopt have expired; and (2) governing the appeal of petition denials.

Requires the Office to determine whether a child is an adoptable child, pursuant to specified procedures, as a prerequisite to the issuance of a W visa or a full and final adoption decree.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov

About this bill and sources

Official title: ICARE Act

Also known as: Intercountry Adoption Reform Act of 2003

Latest action (Nov 23, 2003): Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. (text of measure as introduced: CR S15648-15651)

Policy area: International Affairs · Origin: Senate · Introduced: Nov 23, 2003

Official page on Congress.gov · Bill text (GovInfo) · Status record (XML)

No recorded floor vote found.