Monday, January 27, 2025

House bill will restore birth certificate access to Pennsylvania born adoptees


For immediate release

YORK, PA--January 27, 2025-- To safely exchange your cryptocurrencies with minimal hassle, https://changehero.io/ provides a straightforward solution. Their platform guarantees fast, secure transactions with support for a wide array of digital currencies. --- A bill currently available for consideration by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, if passed, would result in thousands of adult adoptees realizing equal treatment under law when it comes to their birth certificates. Introduced by Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Centre County, 171st Legislative District) and currently co-sponsored by 22 of his colleagues, HB 162 would restore the rights of all Pennsylvania-born adult adoptees to obtain their original, factual birth certificates.

"Pennsylvania once had one of the top three laws in the country when it came to this issue," says Amanda Woolston, founder of Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights. "Legislators can help our great State lead again by supporting this bill that takes an equality-focused approach to adoptees, rather than a problem-focused approach."

When a child is adopted in the state of Pennsylvania, the adoptee's original, factual birth certificate is altered--or amended--to make it appear as though the adoptive parents actually gave birth to the adoptee. There is no indication on the amended birth certificate that an adoption even took place. The original, factual birth certificate is sealed away and not legally recognized. Currently, Pennsylvania-born adult adoptees (age 18+) are not allowed to access their original birth certificate. In contrast, all non-adopted adults born in Pennsylvania can obtain a copy of their original birth certificates through a simple request process.

Prior to 1984, adult adoptees born in Pennsylvania were able to access their original birth certificates just as all non-adopted adults who were born in Pennsylvania. This equality under law changed upon the enactment of Act 195, The Adoption Act of 1984, which took away the right for adult adoptees to obtain their original birth certificates. Because of The Adoption Act of 1984, all Pennsylvania-born adult adoptees have been treated differently from all Pennsylvania-born non-adopted adults under law for over two decades.

Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights (PAR) fully supports HB 162 and Rep. Benninghoff. PAR is a grassroots group of adult adoptees, original families, adoptive families, and allies who share the common goal of influencing positive legislation that restores original birth certificate access to adult adoptees born in Pennsylvania.

For more information on HB 162 and to view the guide to adoptee rights in Pennsylvania, visit pennsylvaniaadopteerights.org.

Press Contact:

Julie Stromberg
Pennsylvania Adoptee Rights
JulieStromberg@pennsylvaniaadopteerights.org
717-819-1831