Please write to your state representatives...

Hi Everyone,
We are asking everyone we know to write their state representative to get the following bill passed regarding international adoption. If our I171-H expires on January 13, 2007 and we do not have Maya Lily--we will basically be back to square one. You all know how much Patrick and I have gone through to become parents. We really need the United States government to extend the timeframe from 18 months to atleast 24 months. This will make it that much easier for us and many other waiting families from having to re-do paperwork and pay fees for something we have already completed.

We all need to get our Representatives behind this. You can email your representatives from this link: http://www.house.gov/writerep/

Here is an example of what you can include in your letter:

We have contacted you before with our concerns about the expiration date of the I-171H and the burden this will place on our family as well as an extra burden on the USCIS. Heather Wilson has introduced legislation that will give us relief. It is called the Helping Families Adopt Orphans Act. Can you see what you can do to help this bill make it through the house? You can read about it at the following link: http://wilson.house.gov/NewsAction.asp?FormMode=Releases&ID=1284
Thank you for your help getting this important piece of legislation passed. It will help tens of thousands of families as well as keep the already backlogged USCIS offices from having to renew the paperwork for tens of thousands of families.


The more letters our representatives receive the more likely they will act on this very important issue.
We thank you for your continued love and support.
Love,
Aleisa and Patrick