Tammy Duckworth Becomes 1st Sitting U.S. Senator To Give Birth

SPRINGFIELD, IL — U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth has made history again. Duckworth and her husband, Bryan Bowlsbey, have welcomed their second child as the retired Army lieutenant colonel, 50, gave birth in a Washington, D.C. hospital Monday. The couple also has a 3-year-old daughter, Abigail.

Duckworth announced the birth early Monday afternoon on Twitter, revealing the new baby's name. "Bryan, Abigail and I couldn’t be happier to welcome little Maile Pearl as the newest addition to our family," she tweeted. She also shared that the child's namesake is her husband's great-aunt, who also served in the U.S. Army.

In another tweet, Duckworth said, "We’re also so grateful for the love and support of our friends and family, as well as our wonderful medical teams for everything they’ve done to help us in our decades-long journey to complete our family."

The birth is another "first" for Duckworth, who is no stranger to making history. She was the first Asian-American woman elected to Congress in Illinois, the first member of Congress born in Thailand and the first disabled woman to be elected to Congress. An Iraq war veteran, she was also the first female double amputee from the war after losing both legs when the Blackhawk helicopter she was piloting was shot down in 2004.

Duckworth announced her pregnancy in late January, sharing with the Chicago Sun-Times that she was due to give birth just weeks after her 50th birthday. She's not the first member of Congress to give birth — previously, members of the House have done so — but is the first in the U.S. Senate.

Duckworth is one of only 10 women who have given birth while serving in Congress, her office said in a statement. "Her experiences as a working mother give her an important—and underrepresented—perspective in the halls of Congress, where she has long advocated on behalf of working families," the statement said.

"Parenthood isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s an economic issue and one that affects all parents—men and women alike,” Duckworth said. “As tough as juggling the demands of motherhood and being a Senator can be, I’m hardly alone or unique as a working parent, and my children only make me more committed to doing my job and standing up for hardworking families everywhere.”

In February, Duckworth said during a Politico's "Women Rule" podcast that she won't be able to take maternity leave, because if she does, she won't be able to vote or sponsor legislation during her leave. She vowed to work to change the rules — including one banning children from the Senate floor.

The rule means she'd have to find another place to breastfeed, such as a bathroom just outside the Senate floor, former Senate parliamentarian Alan Frumin told Newsweek.

"If I have to vote, and I'm breastfeeding my child, especially during my maternity leave period, what do I do?" she asked. "Leave her sitting outside?" Duckworth also said she was surprised her history-making pregnancy caused such a stir, adding, "It's ridiculous that it's 2018 and this became big news."

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel issued a statement congratulating Duckworth and her husband on the new addition to their family. "Congratulations Tammy Duckworth on the birth of your beautiful daughter," Emanuel said. "Senator Duckworth has served this state and country as a Lieutenant Colonel, a U.S. Representative and a Senator -- but there is no higher rank than parent. Illinois is lucky to have a Senator who fights for our families, and Amy and I are thrilled to congratulate the Duckworth family on this blessed occasion."

Image: Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) speaks during a news conference about resisting the Trump Administration's Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity with at the U.S. Capitol July 11, 2017 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)