Perry Proposes New Legislation Against Child Exploitation via Surrogacy

Representative Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania) introduced two new bills in Congress aimed at addressing child exploitation related to surrogacy. He shared details during a press conference alongside fellow Republican Representatives Tim Burchett of Tennessee and Randy Fine of Florida.

“Our concern here is really about the safety and well-being of children, particularly how surrogacy is sometimes used for, well, let’s say, questionable purposes,” Perry stated.

“Children are not pets. Children are not property,” he added emphatically.

The legislative efforts consist of two main components. The first bill aims to eliminate a critical loophole that permits registered sex offenders to legally have children via surrogacy agencies. The second measure would prohibit foreign nationals from utilizing American surrogacy services to acquire children who are American citizens.

Addressing Dangerous Loopholes

The first piece of legislation, titled Laws to Protect Children from Creepy Acts, was stimulated by a recent case in Pennsylvania.

A former high school chemistry teacher, Brandon Riley Mitchell, pleaded guilty to serious child pornography charges after excessively messaging a 16-year-old student with requests for nude photos. He subsequently served prison time and registered as a first-degree sex offender. Following his release, he and his partner used surrogacy to welcome a newborn.

The couple set up a GoFundMe campaign meant to cover surrogacy costs, though they did not inform donors of Mitchell’s sex offender status.

York County District Attorney Tim Barker confirmed to Newsweek that there was little legal recourse available, noting that private surrogacy contracts lack the strict oversight that adoption processes require. This lack of supervision allowed Mitchell to exploit the system.

Perry’s proposal would implement severe penalties. Any sex offender who knowingly engages in surrogacy agreements would face a minimum of 20 years in federal prison. Similarly, surrogacy agency staff who assist in such transactions could also receive stiff sentences. Agencies showing negligence could risk a 10-year prison term, loss of their 501(c)(3) status, and a permanent ban from federal funding.

The term “sex offender” would broadly encompass anyone mandated to register under legal definitions, including those under the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act.

Burchett expressed strong support for the legislation. “These sex offenders, these filthy bastards, don’t deserve the privilege of having a child. They lost that right through their awful actions,” he asserted, closing with a biblical reference about kindness to the vulnerable.

Foreign Exploitation Concerns

The second bill, identified as HR9132, seeks to address a different yet equally alarming issue: foreign nationals using U.S. surrogacy services, particularly those from potentially hostile nations, to produce U.S. citizen children.

Perry emphasized that international commercial surrogacy poses a national security risk, leading to immigration fraud and various ethical concerns. “Essentially, we’re enabling a situation that endangers children,” he remarked.

He highlighted an example of a Chinese national who allegedly fathered over 100 children through American surrogacy, raising significant ethical questions. Another case involved a Chinese man who had a surrogate child raised by a wet nurse, illustrating the alarming scale at which this system is being exploited.

Perry painted a chilling picture of surrogacy agencies, describing a “drive-through” operation in California where clients could pick up newborns for transport to China. This situation is increasingly distressing considering the 107 Chinese-owned surrogacy agencies reported to be active in Southern California.

While highlighting the risks, Perry pointed out that even China has prohibited surrogacy within its own borders: “We don’t want to create spies with U.S. passports. If you want to practice surrogacy, do it in your own country,” he stated firmly.

When pressed about potential backlash from the California Democratic Party, given the number of Chinese-owned agencies operating there, Perry responded candidly. “We expect a reaction. They could have brought these issues to light themselves. It appears they either don’t care or are fully aware,” he remarked.

Perry’s bill would nullify any surrogacy agreements made between American surrogate mothers and prospective foreign parents, enforcing penalties of up to 10 years in prison for brokers facilitating such arrangements. Exceptions exist for married couples where at least one parent holds U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.

Highlighting a focus on family, Perry concluded: “We believe in family and want to make that possible, but we’re also open to restrictions to prevent exploitation by foreign nationals and former sex offenders. That’s the goal here.”

Fine, another co-sponsor, encapsulated the issues at stake, saying, “Surrogacy is a sacred act, yet it has been twisted by those with questionable intentions.”

“Children are not pets. Children are not property,” Perry reiterated, emphasizing the need for protection.