[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 280 Introduced in House (IH)]







106th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 280

 Recognizing the importance of strong marriages and the contributions 
that community marriage policies have made to the strength of marriages 
                     throughout the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             August 5, 1999

 Mr. Ehlers (for himself, Mr. Hoekstra, Mr. Upton, Mr. Gutknecht, Mr. 
    Pitts, Mr. Whitfield, Mr. Packard, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Bartlett of 
Maryland, Mr. Gilchrest, Mr. Porter, Mr. Largent, Mrs. Wilson, and Mr. 
Manzullo) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                Committee on Education and the Workforce

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Recognizing the importance of strong marriages and the contributions 
that community marriage policies have made to the strength of marriages 
                     throughout the United States.

Whereas a community marriage policy is a set of agreed-upon guidelines for 
        premarital preparation and community support for marriage to which 
        individuals, the community, clergy, and congregations voluntarily 
        commit;
Whereas visionary communities have adopted community marriage policies to 
        empower couples for healthy, lifelong marriage and to foster an 
        environment that has the greatest likelihood of ensuring the well-being 
        of our citizens, especially our children;
Whereas one example of a successful community marriage policy is the Greater 
        Grand Rapids Community Marriage Policy, which outlines a menu for a 
        successful marriage, including not marrying too young, finishing school, 
        choosing a mate with similar values, dating at least a year before 
        marriage, completing a premarital course, waiting to cohabit until after 
        marriage, emphasizing the positive, sharing the household duties, 
        worshiping together, having fun together, and remembering that 
        commitment is the foundation for successful marriage; and
Whereas community members can support a community marriage policy by 
        volunteering their time, expertise, influence, and resources to support 
        initiatives that promote marriage and stable families: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the importance of strong marriages for a 
        strong society;
            (2) commends the Greater Grand Rapids community and other 
        communities which have established community marriage policies 
        for their efforts to support marriage and prevent the problems 
        of divorce; and
            (3) encourages other communities in the United States to 
        develop community marriage policies to enable community members 
        to work together to strengthen marriages and provide stable 
        environments for children.
    Sec. 2. The Clerk of the House of Representatives shall transmit an 
enrolled copy of this resolution to the President of the United States.
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