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Washington, D.C. - This Mother’s Day will be my second since becoming a grandmother. I am an extremely proud grandmother and I have the pictures in my purse to prove it. All mothers, the world over, share the experience of great love that comes with bringing a new life into this world. Mothers have come to know a love that is unconditional and profound.
There is nothing I would not do to protect my child and now my grandchild from harm. Having experienced this unconditional love, I now attempt to put myself in the shoes of a young mother who, out of a great love, offers her baby for adoption. Adoption is a gift of immeasurable joy and love to an adoptive family. I cannot begin to fathom the wrenching pain a mother must feel when making this decision.
Almost everyone agrees that we should do what we can to limit the number of abortions in this country. This is a rare point of agreement that should be seized upon.
As a legislator in Washington, one of my many tasks is to look at issues through the eyes of every one I represent. A task that is not always easy.
If we are serious about reducing abortions, we need to put ourselves in the shoes of the young, unexpected mother. We must understand that a young woman’s decision is only the beginning of the emotional pain.
Our society has recognized that there are great economic costs associated with bringing a new life into this world. Our tax code not only extends tax breaks at the birth of a child, but we go much further in giving adoptive families additional tax credits to help offset the very significant costs of adoption.
But what do we do for the young woman who painfully and with great personal sacrifice made the greatest act of love by giving up her child for adoption? Very, very little.
I hope to change that. This week I introduced legislation to give birth mothers the same child tax credit all other mothers receive. The Motherhood Fairness Act seeks to recognize the economic and emotional pain young birthmothers’ experience. Giving birth mothers the same child tax credit for one year to recognize their economic sacrifice is only fair.
This Mother’s Day let us remember and be thankful for every mother, not just our own. Happy Mother’s Day.
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