cross posted to womenmakenews.com

Everybody thinks we need more women in government—well everybody except the Taliban. And it’s probably a good idea if some of those women are moms. Mothers of young kids. There’s nobody better to stand up for the vulnerable than those whose children so young, they do random breathing checks at night.

Nothing illustrates that better than the short, but interesting legislative career of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand who has two small children (the one who took over from Hillary.)

This spring, she sponsored the Safe Baby Products Act. This bill would require the FDA to study chemicals in toiletries intended for babies and children. We don’t really need to study them that much, since the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has found two carcinogens already. We just really need to get the stuff off the shelves.

Equally concerned about the water washing our babies, Gillibrand proposed an amendment to study drug residues in the water supply, which was approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee.

Apparently, there are traces of birth control pills from excreted urine and lot of other free-floating pharma in the drinking water of some 51 million Americans. Some of this effluent actually comes from manufacturers rather than toilets.

At a press conference, Gillibrand identified herself, “As a lawmaker and mother of two young children…” and went on to say she wants government to study the longterm effects of these residues and “ensure clean, safe drinking water for all our families.”

Looking out for vulnerable veterans, the New York Senator has also introduced a bill to notify veterans about available benefits.

Likewise, she’s thinking of single moms—who must pay a $25 fee to state governments to collect support. Gillibrand introduced the Elimination of the Single Parent Tax Act of 2009 ,which would remove that penalty which can be onerous to those on the poverty line.

Gillibrand is not the only Congressmom—there are about 10 others. Gillibrand, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, Linda Sanchez and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin all had babies in the last few years. Look at the kind of bills they’re packing and you’ll see legislation protecting those who need someone watching their back. These women have worked on issues such as: gender equity in health premiums; compensating overtime with time and a half off; making rural healthcare up to snuff: and cyber-bullying. And they’re not all progressive democrats.

Certainly, not all mothers think the same way. Still, I think, there’s something about the early years of your children’s lives that makes you more empathetic to all children or other vulnerable people who need a bit of mothering. And there’s no denying that having kids changes your view of reality–besides a sixth sense that lets you see the potential for accidents everywhere. Once you become pregnant, you start paying more attention to what you put in your own body. After the baby comes, you try to protect it from ingesting toxins—like cigarette butts under restaurant tables or rush hour fumes. And you want your kid to have what she needs to stay healthy and safe—as well as other kids.

That kind of vigilance would really help in Congress. So maybe in addition to the lactation room, the Capitol should start a daycare. It might really up the number of Congressmoms.