[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 17960]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TRIBUTE TO MICHAEL AND EMILY BECK

 Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I recognize Michael and Emily 
Beck of Keystone, SD, as my nominees for the 2010 Angels in Adoption 
Award. Since 1999, the Angels in Adoption program through the 
Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute has honored more than 
1,600 individuals, couples, and organizations nationwide for their work 
in providing children with loving, stable homes.
  Michael and Emily Beck were high school sweethearts, and decided 
early in their relationship that they would eventually start a family 
through adoption. The Becks have done exactly that through the adoption 
of four children. Tehya, 6, was adopted when she was just a baby, and 
this year the Beck family grew by three more. In July, Michael and 
Emily finalized the adoption of their foster children, John, 7, and his 
sisters, Emily, 5, and Shyanne, 4. Michael and Emily worked diligently 
to reunite John, Emily, and Shyanne who had been separated in the 
foster system.
  I admire the Beck's desire to promote foster care and advocate 
adoption as a way of life. A significant driving force behind their 
philosophy on adoption is their belief in the call God has placed upon 
His family to care for those who have no family to care for them. The 
Beck's goal is to provide permanency--a stable home and loving family--
for children who can often spend their entire childhood in the foster 
care system.
  The Becks also exemplify selfless service to our Nation. Michael and 
Emily both serve our country through the Army National Guard, and 
Michael has orders to deploy to the Middle East in 2011.
  As a father myself, I can speak to the sacrifices that parents 
willingly make for the well-being of their children. It is apparent 
through their stories that Michael and Emily make significant 
sacrifices to provide for their children and find joy in the small 
accomplishments of parenting. Michael and Emily are committed to 
providing a promising and loving future for their family.
  National Adoption Day this year is November 20, 2010, and I can think 
of no better family to serve as a role model for others who seek to 
adopt than Michael and Emily Beck, my nominees for the 2010 Angels in 
Adoption Award.

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