Republican Lawmakers Introduce Bills Targeting Surrogacy Industry Oversight
Republican representatives introduced two bills in June 2024 aimed at regulating the surrogacy industry: the Protecting Kids from Creeps Act and the Preventing International Surrogacy Exploitation Act. The legislation was prompted by high-profile cases involving individuals with criminal histories obtaining children through surrogacy. The bills seek to implement background checks and prevent foreign nationals from accessing surrogacy services in the United States.
Representatives Scott Perry, Tim Burchett, and Randy Fine introduced legislation targeting surrogacy industry practices, citing concerns about inadequate screening of prospective parents. The Protecting Kids from Creeps Act would require surrogacy agencies to conduct background checks to prevent convicted sex offenders from obtaining children, while the Preventing International Surrogacy Exploitation Act aims to restrict foreign nationals from accessing U.S. surrogacy services. The lawmakers pointed to several cases as justification, including a Pennsylvania couple where one partner was a registered sex offender, and a British case involving an individual charged with human trafficking and sexual assault related to eight children obtained through surrogacy. The article notes that current surrogacy organizations reportedly conduct minimal screening of clients, creating potential vulnerabilities.
What's missing
The article does not provide information on current surrogacy regulations at state or federal levels, the prevalence of abuse cases relative to total surrogacy arrangements, perspectives from surrogacy industry representatives or LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations, or details on what specific screening mechanisms the proposed bills would mandate.
What different sources said
- The FederalistRight
Republicans Launch Bills To Stop Child Predators And Foreigners From Buying Children
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