Representative Vicky Hartzler helps introduce the Permanency for Children Act

Rep. Vicky Hartzler and Rep. Annie Kuster announced Thursday the introduction of a bipartisan legislation that would streamline state and federal resources used to facilitate adoptions.

The legislation will be called the Permanency for Children Act, and it will connect the voluntary responsible fatherhood registries in 34 states with the Federal Parent Locator Service.

The representatives hope it will provide a broader, more efficient way to locate absent birth fathers during a pending adoption.

The bill has been endorsed by the National Council on Adoption.

“A responsible father registry is a voluntary database where birth fathers can proactively assert their parental rights for purposes of custody or adoption. Currently, these databases operate in 34 U.S. states. This legislation would link these registries to the existing Federal Parent Locator Service, thereby increasing the scope of searchable databases to better locate the fathers of children in custody or adoption cases,” Hartzler said.

The representatives said this legislation will help facilitate adoptions in a more efficient manner.