February 3, 1959. That’s the day I was born. But home didn’t start there. It started when my mom and dad adopted me. And in a way, that’s comforting. My family chose me—they could have chosen anyone, but they chose me. And the woman who brought me into the world gave me more than life; she gave me possibility. She gave me a shot at a boyhood full of fishing boats and baseball cards and the opportunity to have a wife and children and now grandchildren of my own. She gave me the chance to serve the community that made me the man I am and to make a difference in the lives of others.
Last Wednesday, we celebrated my birthday in D.C., and I kept thinking about that: what does it mean to make a difference? That’s why it’s important to me to share my story. I want folks to know that adoption is an option, and when they’re faced with difficult choices, I want them to have the information and resources they need to give a child a shot at love and a shot at life.
Adoption isn’t a partisan issue. We can all agree that the most vulnerable members of our community deserve a place to call home and a place to find and reach their full potential. You know, one of the extraordinary things about the country we live in is that families come in all shapes and sizes. The “perfect” family is the family filled with love and understanding, and I’ve seen so many of those in the First District. Adoptive families face unique challenges, and on the other side of those challenges, they’re rewarded with unique blessings and with the satisfaction of having said “yes” when others were saying “no."
Here in Washington, I want to do everything that I can to support adoption and to support life. Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, had not yet been decided when I was born. I’ve thought about that a lot, and that’s why I’ve advocated for measures to make sure that women know that adoption is an option. It's why I’ve fought, once again, to defund Planned Parenthood and any organization that disregards the sanctity of innocent life.
But what is most important to me is to act as a resource for families considering adoption, and to make sure that people know the value that an adoptive family can bring into a child’s life. That’s what my family did for me, and that’s what I want for others.
Thanks to all of the adoptive parents and biological parents who have chosen, as my mom did, to let love grow.
