Us Code § 14901 - Findings and purposes
Full text of Us Code United States Code § 14901 — Findings and purposes, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 14901. Findings and purposes
(a) Findings
Congress recognizes—
(1) the international character of the Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (done at The Hague on May 29, 1993); and
(2) the need for uniform interpretation and implementation of the Convention in the United States and abroad,
and therefore finds that enactment of a Federal law governing adoptions and prospective adoptions subject to the Convention involving United States residents is essential.
(b) Purposes
The purposes of this chapter are—
(1) to provide for implementation by the United States of the Convention;
(2) to protect the rights of, and prevent abuses against, children, birth families, and adoptive parents involved in adoptions (or prospective adoptions) subject to the Convention, and to ensure that such adoptions are in the children's best interests; and
(3) to improve the ability of the Federal Government to assist United States citizens seeking to adopt children from abroad and residents of other countries party to the Convention seeking to adopt children from the United States.
(Pub. L. 106–279, §2, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 825.)
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This chapter, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original "this Act", meaning Pub. L. 106–279, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 825, which is classified principally to this chapter. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out below and Tables.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Dates; Transition Rule
Pub. L. 106–279, title V, §505, Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 844, provided that:
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(b)
"(1) in the case of a child immigrating to the United States, if the application for advance processing of an orphan petition or petition to classify an orphan as an immediate relative for the child is filed before the effective date described in subsection (a)(2); or
"(2) in the case of a child emigrating from the United States, if the prospective adoptive parents of the child initiated the adoption process in their country of residence with the filing of an appropriate application before the effective date described in subsection (a)(2)."
Short Title of 2020 Amendment
Pub. L. 116–184, §1, Oct. 30, 2020, 134 Stat. 897, provided that: "This Act [amending section 14914 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 14914 of this title] may be cited as the 'Intercountry Adoption Information Act of 2019'."
Short Title of 2013 Amendment
Pub. L. 112–276, §1, Jan. 14, 2013, 126 Stat. 2466, provided that: "This Act [enacting section 14925 of this title, amending sections 14922 and 14943 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 14925 of this title] may be cited as the 'Intercountry Adoption Universal Accreditation Act of 2012'."
Short Title
Pub. L. 106–279, §1(a), Oct. 6, 2000, 114 Stat. 825, provided that: "This Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 622 of this title and sections 1101 and 1154 of Title 8, Aliens and Nationality] may be cited as the 'Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000'."
About This Section
42 U.S.C. § 14901 is part of Title 42 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.
This section may be cited in legal writing as 42 U.S.C. § 14901. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.
How to Read This Statute
Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.
Using This Page
This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.