Philip Wegmann
Adoption doesnt just change your life it makes your life.
In college Tim and Angela would counsel women facing an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. And they always suggested adoption as an option. Some took their advice. Many didnt.
Tim praises those who did the mothers who gave up their children and made one of the toughest and most loving choices there is.
When Tim and Angela started their own family they opted to adoptfirst one little girl then three more children.
Its not an unusual story. Thousands of American families adopt each year.
But its unique because today
Tim Huelskamp splits his time between Kansas and Washington D.C. And its remarkable because Huelskamp is a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Like Huelskamp some other members of Congress have opened their homes through adoption. Theyll tell you its a blessing but also admit its a challenge. And many consider it an opportunity to show a positive alternative to abortion.
Life is incredibly precious Rep. David Schweikert R-Ariz. says. The only time Ive cried in my adult life he tells The Daily Signal is when he first held his adopted baby girl Olivia.
At 53 years old Schweikert became a father.
Its a little backwards he admits but after six years on a waiting list to become foster parents he and his wife Joyce jumped at the opportunity to adopt a child.
That was last month. Since then Schweikert has learned to juggle public policy while changing diapers building cribs and assembling strollers. But though hes a new dad hes not new to adoption.
Many Options
Abortion was still illegal in America when Schweikerts biological mother only miles away from the Mexican border decided not to abort. The teenager turned her car around choosing to skip the appointment she had in Tijuana.
Months later in 1962 Schweikert was born in Los Angeles in a home for unwed mothers. Looking back he says hes incredibly blessed. And he thanks his birth mother for choosing not to end the pregnancy and instead giving him up for adoption.
As an adopted son who became an adoptive father Schweikert doesnt downplay the difficulty of an unplanned pregnancy. None of the lawmakers who spoke with The Daily Signal did. But Schweikert also notes that adoption has become easier in the modern world.
He explains:
There are so many options out there and so many families looking for babies. If a young woman finds herself in that very difficult situation shes gotta understand that there are so many options available.
And now Schweikert is that dad the one with the photos whos always showing off his new kid He also is telling everyone that adoptions not something to be scared of.
Adoption Caucus
Although there is no official count of how many members of Congress have chosen adoption broad support exists for the institution on both sides of the aisle. The largest conference of lawmakers in Washington the Congressional Adoption Caucus has broad bipartisan support.
The mission of the caucus is to work for every child to have a safe and loving family. The groups partner organization also sponsors an internship program that has placed more than 170 college students once in foster care in prestigious internships on Capitol Hill.
But while members offer their support
Rep. Markwayne Mullin R-Okla. says many think their work in Congress would keep them from adopting kids.
At 42 Mullin didnt want to adopt. He already had a young family of three. But his wife Christie kept pushing him about two little girlstwins separated at birth who needed a home.
Quite frankly I ran out of excuses Mullin says:
My wife was talking to me talking to me and trying to talk me into it. She finally said pray about it. How do you pray for something like that? Thats what opened the door.
When his family adopted and reunited the twins Mullins hectic life became even busier. Its been the biggest blessing but the biggest scheduling conflict he says.
To make more time for the kids the Oklahoma Republican often rolls into meetings and fundraisers with a posse. Events have to be kid-friendly he explains or I dont go.
So Amazed
And now Mullin gets inundated with questionsnot about policy or politics but about his familys experience.
My wife and I are so amazed about how many people just want to talk about the adoption he says. And theyre ready to talk. The couple has met with lawmakers staffers even Capitol Hill police.
Mullins advice is always the same:
If its crossed your mind then theres something thats been put on your heart then you need to actively pursue that. Until you know for a fact the door is closed. Otherwise that nagging is never going to go away.
But while the lawmakers who spoke to The Daily Signal all highlight the benefits of adoption theyre quick to point out the cost.
Adopting families easily can rack up tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees. While saving to adopt his second son
Rep. Kevin Brady R-Texas moved out of his D.C. apartment and slept on the couch in his office instead.
Now chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee Brady says he worries that adoption is just too expensive for working families.
In the upcoming effort to overhaul the tax code Brady says hell be looking for ways to encourage the practice. Nothings official but the tax wonk says his committee will consider an increase in the adoption tax credit.
But its when he sets aside spreadsheets and tax policy to talk about his two adopted boys that the big Texan chokes up.
Adoption doesnt just change your life he says. It makes your life.
His voice cracking Brady explains:
When you have the opportunity to have a family you can hardly wait till you can get home from Washingtonto get in that front door and to see your children. To see your wife as a mother thats just remarkable.
