H.Res. 588: Concerning the suspension of exit permit issuance by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for adopted Congolese children seeking to depart the country with their adoptive parents.

H.Res. 588: Concerning the suspension of exit permit issuance by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for adopted Congolese children seeking to depart the country with their adoptive parents.

113th Congress · introduced 2014-05-19 · Immigration · Latest: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

Where it came from: introduced 2014-05-19 · official record
Who proposed it: Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN-7] · what a sponsor is
What happened next: no floor votes in our records yet. Why?
Where it stands now: The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection. Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Concerning the suspension of exit permit issuance by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for adopted Congolese children seeking to depart the country with their adoptive parents.

Plain summary

Affirms that all children deserve a safe, loving, and permanent family. Recognizes the importance of ensuring that international adoptions of all children are conducted in an ethical and transparent manner. Expresses concern over the increasing number of new adoption cases that have been opened and the impact on children and families of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's suspension of exit permits. Requests that the Congolese government: (1) resume issuing exit permits for all children that have been adopted and continue processing adoptions that are already underway, and (2) expedite the processing of adoptions involving medically fragile children. Encourages continued cooperation between the Department of State and the Democratic Republic of the Congo's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to improve the intercountry adoption process and ensure the welfare of all children adopted from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

A Yea supports adopting this resolution.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Concerning the suspension of exit permit issuance by the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo for adopted Congolese children seeking to depart the country with their adoptive parents.

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Peterson, Collin C. [D-MN-7] · 61 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Andy Barr (R-KY), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Steve Cohen (D-TN), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), John B. Larson (D-CT), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Adam Smith (D-WA), Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Ann Wagner (R-MO), John Garamendi (D-CA), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Scott Perry (R-PA), Steve Daines (R-MT), Jim Costa (D-CA), Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Tom McClintock (R-CA), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Cynthia M. Lummis (R-WY) and 1 more.

No linked floor roll calls in our collected records yet. This does not mean the bill has never had a vote. Check the official bill history.

Words on this page, explained (2)

Resolution: A formal statement or decision by a legislative body. Simple resolutions often only express an opinion or set rules for one chamber; they do not become law.
Roll-call vote: A vote where each member's position is recorded by name, so the public can see how every member voted. "Yea" means yes, "Nay" means no, "Present" means the member was there but did not take a side.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House amended)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-113hres588.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/113/hres>

Record fed-us-cong113-hres588 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong113 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong113