[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 193 (Thursday, December 6, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S7360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 717--HONORING THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF REBECCA TERESA 
                               WEICHHAND

  Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Blunt, Ms. Klobuchar, 
Ms. Heitkamp, Mr. Casey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
Peters, Mr. Warner, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Cassidy, and Mr. King) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 717

       Whereas Rebecca (``Becky'') Teresa Weichhand was born on 
     February 25, 1982;
       Whereas Rebecca Teresa Weichhand was from Stevensville, 
     Michigan, a town of just over 1,000 people, 1 stop light, and 
     a noon whistle to call the farmers in from the fields for 
     lunch;
       Whereas, at the age of 10, Rebecca Teresa Weichhand knew 
     she wanted to be a lawyer;
       Whereas, in her first year of college, on a trip to Romania 
     to volunteer with abandoned children in hospitals and 
     orphanages, Rebecca Teresa Weichhand knew she wanted to use 
     the law to support families and ensure that every child had a 
     place to call home;
       Whereas Rebecca Teresa Weichhand earned a bachelor's degree 
     from Cornerstone University and a law degree from Regent 
     University;
       Whereas, during law school, Rebecca Teresa Weichhand was 
     named a Blackstone Legal Fellow and spent a summer in 
     Strasbourg, France, participating in the Regent Human Rights 
     Program;
       Whereas Rebecca Teresa Weichhand served tirelessly as a 
     passionate advocate for children in foster care and the 
     importance that every child have a forever family;
       Whereas, as an intern for the Congressional Coalition on 
     Adoption Institute in 2008, Rebecca Teresa Weichhand found 
     her home base for her career and platform for service;
       Whereas, as Policy Director for the Congressional Coalition 
     on Adoption Institute from 2009 to 2014, Rebecca Teresa 
     Weichhand--
       (1) worked closely with Members of Congress and 
     congressional staff to raise awareness about adoption, foster 
     care, and issues impacting the welfare of children; and
       (2) led 3 major international policy projects focused on 
     the welfare of children in Haiti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, 
     Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda, and Guatemala;
       Whereas, as Executive Director for the Congressional 
     Coalition on Adoption Institute from 2014 to 2018, Rebecca 
     Teresa Weichhand--
       (1) led with passion, gratitude, and an unwavering voice 
     for children in need of families; and
       (2) played an integral role in supporting the Federal 
     adoption tax credit (section 23 of the Internal Revenue Code 
     of 1986);
       Whereas, while serving at the Congressional Coalition on 
     Adoption Institute, Rebecca Teresa Weichhand--
       (1) initiated the Foster Youth Internship policy report 
     project, where former foster youth provide detailed 
     recommendations on child welfare policy to Members of 
     Congress;
       (2) oversaw the completion of 11 annual policy reports; and
       (3) served as an advisor, mentor, friend, and extended 
     family member to 11 classes of foster youth interns;
       Whereas, through tireless work at the Congressional 
     Coalition on Adoption Institute, Rebecca Teresa Weichhand--
       (1) played a significant role in the Angels in Adoption 
     program, recognizing the contributions of individuals, 
     families, and organizations across the United States to 
     children through adoption and improvements in the foster care 
     system; and
       (2) expanded the scope of the Angels in Adoption program to 
     connect Angels to Members of Congress and congressional 
     staff, enhancing--
          (A) the reach of the personal stories of the Angels; and
          (B) advocacy for children in need of families;
       Whereas Rebecca Teresa Weichhand was a person of strong 
     faith and lived her beliefs through actions of generosity, 
     kindness, and service to others;
       Whereas Rebecca Teresa Weichhand passed away on November 
     27, 2018, after a courageous battle with cancer; and
       Whereas the Senate should continue to work in a bipartisan 
     manner to improve outcomes for all at-risk children, with the 
     goal of ensuring that every child has a forever family: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the dedication of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand 
     to the children in our world who are in need of a permanent, 
     safe, and loving family and the accomplishments and advocacy 
     of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand on behalf of those children;
       (2) honors the memory of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand by 
     expressing the intent of the Senate to continue working in a 
     bipartisan manner to improve outcomes for youth in foster 
     care, with the goal of ensuring that every child has a 
     forever family; and
       (3) encourages the people of the United States to follow 
     the example of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand in expressing 
     kindness, love in action, and compassion for those who need 
     it most.

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