A pair of newly introduced bills in Congress seeks to tighten oversight of the surrogacy industry, with supporters arguing that current laws leave children vulnerable to exploitation and allow foreign actors to take advantage of loopholes in America’s immigration system.

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Rep. Scott Perry and several congressional allies say the legislation is designed to place the welfare of children above commercial interests while addressing growing concerns about the surrogacy industry’s lack of safeguards.

From The Federalist:

Rep. Scott Perry, R-Penn., held a press conference with Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., and Rep. Randy Fine, R-Fla., on June 4 to introduce the Protecting Kids from Creeps Act and the Preventing International Surrogacy Exploitation Act. The bills, Perry said, aim to “put children first” and “help prevent predators / foreign actors from obtaining children in our Nation for personal gain, profit, or other nefarious reasons.”

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Perry’s bill would protect children from child abusers by requiring surrogacy agencies to screen customers and conduct background checks. Any employees who willfully connected a predator with a surrogate would face a minimum of 20 years in federal prison. Any sex offender who tried to obtain a child via surrogacy would also face 20 years’ imprisonment. Leadership at negligent agencies would garner 10 years in prison and be barred from receiving federal grant money for violating the law.

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Perry said he created these bills because “children are not pets; children are not property.”

The legislation comes amid increasing scrutiny of the rapidly growing surrogacy industry. Supporters of Perry’s proposals point to several recent criminal cases involving individuals who obtained or sought children through surrogacy arrangements and later faced allegations of sexual abuse, exploitation, or trafficking.

One bill, the Protecting Kids from Creeps Act, would establish federal requirements for background checks and screening procedures for prospective parents seeking to obtain children through surrogacy. The proposal would also create significant criminal penalties for agencies and individuals who knowingly facilitate surrogacy arrangements involving registered sex offenders or other predators.

The second measure, the Preventing International Surrogacy Exploitation Act, focuses on foreign nationals who use American surrogacy services. Perry and other supporters argue that current laws allow wealthy foreign citizens to obtain U.S.-born children through commercial surrogacy arrangements, potentially creating opportunities for immigration fraud and raising broader national security concerns.

According to reports cited by Perry, some foreign nationals have used American surrogacy clinics to produce large numbers of children who automatically receive U.S. citizenship at birth. The congressman argues that the United States has fewer restrictions on international commercial surrogacy than many other nations, including China, which has prohibited the practice domestically.

The proposed legislation would reportedly invalidate surrogacy contracts between American surrogates and foreign nationals while imposing criminal penalties on brokers who facilitate such arrangements. Supporters say the goal is to prevent the commercialization of children and ensure that American laws prioritize the welfare of children over profit.

This debate raises important questions about the dignity of human life and the treatment of children. Scripture teaches that children are a gift from God, not commodities to be bought, sold, or transferred through commercial arrangements. As lawmakers consider these proposals, let’s pray for policies that protect vulnerable children and uphold the sanctity of family and human life.

Share your thoughts and prayers for America’s children and for lawmakers seeking to strengthen protections for the most vulnerable among us.

(Excerpt from The Federalist. Photo Credit: Anna Hecker on Unsplash)