Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) praised the bipartisan passage of House Resolution 588 concerning the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo's (DRC) suspension of exit permits for adopted Congolese children. H. Res 588, which McHenry cosponsored, requests that the Congolese Government immediately resume the processing of adoption cases and the issuing of exit permits.

"The Congolese Government's refusal to issue exit permits for these adopted children is both irresponsible and unnecessary," said McHenry. "There are numerous loving parents prepared to welcome these orphaned children into their homes and the DRC has instead decided to build arbitrary barriers preventing it. I am proud to cosponsor and support this resolution calling upon the DRC to immediately resume issuing exit permits so these children can join caring families in America."

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates there are over four million orphans living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Americans from 43 different states have attempted to adopt children from the DRC but have been prevented from doing so due to the government's suspension of the issuance of exit permits.

Last November, Congressman McHenry became aware of the DRC's suspension of exit permits when a local Gastonia family contacted his office seeking assistance. McHenry worked with the State Department to assist the Littlejohns in securing exit permits for their two adopted children in the DRC. In June of this year, the Littlejohns were reunited with their children when they arrived home to Gastonia.