Kudos to congressman
Dear editor:
We often throw rocks and other garbage at our elected officials, and sometimes some of them deserve the detritus tossed their direction. This letter, however, is not that kind of note. Let me share our story:
My husband is a car hauler; he has been most of his adult life. His current CDL expires next month and he couldn’t get it renewed this time around due to some crazy circumstances involving his adoption at the age of 12 by the man he calls Dad.
There is no birth certificate in his possession. He has an official document issued in Tarrant County, Texas, by the judge who officiated at his adoption. At the time of the adoption, the judge told his parents that this document would replace a birth certificate. He also has a hospital certificate from Los Angeles County where he was born. Not official. That’s it. This worked for a Social Security card, his first driver’s license and all his CDLs up to this point. Revenue office this month said no way, not anymore. It’s his livelihood. It’s how we pay our bills and suddenly with only a couple of weeks before his current CDL expires we’re told he can’t renew.
He drove to Fort Worth, Texas, where the adoption was processed. Went to several buildings. No luck. He drove to Austin, Texas, where the officials at Fort Worth told him he had to go. Austin, Texas, said can’t help you. The gentleman there said he would have to get a court order and get his original California birth certificate. Clock was ticking.
We were panicked, to say the least. And then I contacted Congressman Westerman’s office and explained the situation. They got on the phone to the Department of Finance and then the department reached out to my husband and gave him a reprieve. They have renewed his CDL today with the understanding that in four years we will have worked out this birth certificate fiasco.
We could breathe again all due to how quickly our congressman took care of us. We can make our house payments, pay our utilities and survive. Thank you, sir, and thank you to your staff. That’s what our elected officials are supposed to do. Take care of their constituents. We aren’t important. We don’t donate big dollars. We aren’t friends with powerful people. But we were still served by our congressman and for that we are extremely grateful. Congressman Westerman, our humble thanks to you, sir! Leysa and David Lowery Royal