WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) today sent a letter to Russian Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak expressing deep concern at Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to sign into law a measure barring American families from adopting Russian children. Sen. Toomey also urged the ambassador to prevail upon President Putin to reconsider his position.

"For the past 20 years, it has been possible for Russian orphans to be adopted by American families. In that time, over 60,000 Russian children have been welcomed to the United States and an overwhelming majority of them have found loving, nurturing homes, including many in my state of Pennsylvania," wrote Sen. Toomey. "President Putin's bill takes away this possibility of a new life with a caring American family. It is shocking to me and to my constituents that the Russian government would punish the most vulnerable members within its society - orphan children - with a futile effort at retaliation against an unrelated American law. I hope we can both agree that the welfare of children should not be used as a bargaining chip for diplomatic retribution."

"We have three children, two having been adopted from Russia. We are greatly saddened that Mr. Putin intends to outlaw future US adoptions of Russian orphans," said John and Kathy Yaninek of Harrisburg, Pa. "Our adopted children have enriched our lives and given us an appreciation of Russian culture. These orphan children are deserving of loving families. Our thoughts and prayers are with those families who have identified a child whom they had hoped to bring into their family but now may never realize that dream. We are thankful to Senator Toomey for his efforts on this troubling issue."

President Putin signed the measure earlier today.

The full text of Sen. Toomey's letter to Ambassador Kislyak is below:

December 28, 2012

Ambassador Sergey I. Kislyak
Embassy of the Russian Federation
2650 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20007

Dear Ambassador Kislyak,

I write in response to President Putin's decision to support a bill preventing American citizens from adopting Russian children.

As you know, there are more than 650,000 children living in Russia without nurturing parental supervision. Sadly, these orphans lack the care and warmth of being raised by loving parents. Adoption is the best option these children have for improving their prospects for living normal, productive lives.

Fortunately, for the past 20 years, it has been possible for Russian orphans to be adopted by American families. In that time, over 60,000 Russian children have been welcomed to the United States and an overwhelming majority of them have found loving, nurturing homes, including many in my state of Pennsylvania. Regrettably, President Putin's bill now takes away this possibility of a new life with a caring American family for the many Russian orphans still desperately in need of parents. This bill not only prohibits future adoptions, but, even more disturbingly, it also halts 46 adoptions currently in progress. Now, through absolutely no fault of their own, these children's dreams of a whole new life with loving families have been dashed.

It is shocking to me and my constituents that the Russian government would punish the most vulnerable members within its society - orphan children - with a futile effort at retaliation against an unrelated American law. I hope we can both agree that the welfare of children should not be used as a bargaining chip for diplomatic retribution. I respectfully urge you to do all you can to convince President Putin and your government to reconsider their position. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Pat Toomey
US Senator