Title: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand.
Policy area: Families

Summary:
Recognizes: (1) the dedication of Rebecca Teresa Weichhand to the children in the world who are in need of a permanent, safe, and loving family; and (2) her accomplishments and advocacy on behalf of those children.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 717 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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 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--

    G    (A) the reach of the personal stories of the Angels; and

    G    (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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