III 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 717 

Honoring the life and legacy of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

DECEMBER 6, 2018 

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 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the life and legacy of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand. 

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 


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•SRES 717 IS 

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 


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•SRES 717 IS 

(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 


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•SRES 717 IS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the dedication of Rebecca Teresa 

3 Weichhand to the children in our world who are in 

4 need of a permanent, safe, and loving family and the 

5 accomplishments and advocacy of Rebecca Teresa 

6 Weichhand on behalf of those children; 

7 (2) honors the memory of Rebecca Teresa 

8 Weichhand by expressing the intent of the Senate to 

9 continue working in a bipartisan manner to improve 

10 outcomes for youth in foster care, with the goal of 

11 ensuring that every child has a forever family; and 

12 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

13 to follow the example of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand 

14 in expressing kindness, love in action, and compas15 sion for those who need it most. 

Æ 


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