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FEDERALhearing transcript

High Impact

Reviewing the Implementation of the Goldman Act on International Child Abduction

Original title: THE GOLDMAN ACT TO RETURN ABDUCTED. AMERICAN CHILDREN: REVIEWING OBAMA. ADMINISTRATION IMPLEMENTATION

January 1, 2016

international law child abduction parental rights foreign affairs Goldman Act

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing examines the effectiveness of federal efforts to assist parents in recovering children abducted to foreign countries, a process that currently results in fewer than half of abducted children returning to the United States.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Left-behind parents

These individuals are seeking the return of children taken across international borders and are navigating the legal and diplomatic processes discussed in the hearing.

U.S. Department of State

The agency is responsible for implementing the Goldman Act and providing assistance to families in abduction cases.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This hearing transcript documents a 2015 Congressional review of how the U.S. government is implementing the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act. The subcommittee heard testimony from State Department officials and parents of children who were taken across international borders by a parent.

Key Facts

Approximately 1,000 American children are unlawfully removed from their homes by a parent and taken across international borders annually.
Less than 50% of children abducted internationally are successfully returned to the United States.
The hearing was held on March 25, 2015, by the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations.
The hearing focused on the implementation of the Goldman Act by the Obama Administration.
Left-behind parents face significant financial, legal, cultural, and linguistic barriers when attempting to recover children from foreign jurisdictions.
Many cases involve parents who defy existing U.S. court-ordered custody and visitation agreements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Goldman Act?

It is a federal law designed to prevent and assist in the return of children who have been abducted.

How many American children are abducted internationally each year?

Estimates suggest approximately 1,000 children are taken across international borders by a parent annually.

Why It Matters

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Legislative Oversight

The hearing demonstrates a formal congressional effort to hold the executive branch accountable for the implementation of specific child abduction prevention legislation.

U.S. Department of State House Committee on Foreign Affairs

Connected Entities

personChristopher H. Smith“Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and ”Map →

personJeffery Morehouse“Witness and executive director of BAC Home”Map →

personScott Sawyer“Witness and vice president of operations, Global Future”Map →

personDevon M. Davenport“Witness and parent of abducted child”Map →

personBindu Philips“Witness and parent of abducted children”Map →

personSusan S. Jacobs“Special Advisor for Children's Issues, Bureau of Consular Affairs, U.S. Departme”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance80
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy40
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment20
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz10
Current news / social attention level

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