Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-Wash.) announced Wednesday she and her husband are expecting their first child, putting the lawmaker in a small group of women who have given birth during their time in Congress.
"A few years ago when I was newly married and recently elected to Congress, I remember fielding some speculation as to whether or not I was 'expecting,'" the 34-year-old second-term congresswoman wrote in a Facebook post. "Well... my husband Dan and I are thrilled to announce that this fall, there will be yet another person in Southwest Washington who will -- for their entire adult life -- get to explain 'No, no, it’s pronounced Butler.' That’s right - we’re expecting a baby!"
Not many women have had babies during their congressional term, USA Today reported:
A little history to put the baby news in perspective: Democrat Yvonne Braithwaite Burke is believed to be the first woman in Congress to give birth while in office in 1973, to a daughter. More recently, Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Herrera Beutler's former boss) has had two children while serving in the House. Rep. Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., proudly notes in her bio that she is the eighth woman to give birth while in Congress.
Herrera Beutler's spokesman Casey Bowman told The Oregonian that the congresswoman is due in October and hopes to seek advice from other members of Congress who have given birth while in office.
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