[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 268 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 268

Supporting responsible fatherhood, promoting marriage, and encouraging 
    greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, 
                      especially on Father's Day.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 26, 2007

   Mr. McIntyre (for himself and Mr. Pitts) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Supporting responsible fatherhood, promoting marriage, and encouraging 
    greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, 
                      especially on Father's Day.

Whereas married fathers are more likely to have a close, enduring relationship 
        with their children than unmarried fathers;
Whereas, according to a 2005 study conducted by the National Fatherhood 
        Initiative, 97 percent of Americans agree with the statement that 
        ``fathers are as important as mothers for proper development of 
        children'';
Whereas in a study of fathers' interaction with their children in intact two-
        parent families, nearly 90 percent of the fathers surveyed said that 
        being a father is the most fulfilling role a man can have;
Whereas a broad array of the leading family and child development experts in the 
        United States agree that it is in the best interests of children and the 
        United States as a whole to encourage more two-parent families where the 
        father is actively involved with his children;
Whereas promoting responsible fatherhood can help increase the chances that 
        children will grow up with two caring parents;
Whereas children with fathers at home tend to do better in school, to be less 
        prone to emotional and behavioral problems, and to have more successful 
        relationships;
Whereas boys and girls alike demonstrate greater self-control and ability to 
        take initiative when fathers are actively involved in their upbringing;
Whereas children who are apart from their biological fathers are, in comparison 
        to other children, 5 times more likely to live in poverty, and more 
        likely to bring weapons and drugs into the classroom, commit other 
        crimes, drop out of school, commit suicide, abuse alcohol or drugs, 
        become pregnant as teenagers, suffer child abuse, or exhibit other 
        behavioral problems;
Whereas the promotion of responsible fatherhood should not denigrate the 
        standing or parenting efforts of single mothers, whose efforts are 
        heroic, lessen the protection of children from abusive parents, cause 
        women to remain in, or enter into, abusive relationships, or compromise 
        the health or safety of a custodial parent; and
Whereas Father's Day is the third Sunday in June: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved,  That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the millions of fathers who serve as 
        wonderful, caring parents for their children;
            (2) calls on fathers across the United States to use 
        Father's Day to reconnect and rededicate themselves to their 
        children's lives, to spend Father's Day with their children, 
        and to express their love and support for their children;
            (3) urges men to understand the level of responsibility 
        fathering a child requires, especially in the encouragement of 
        the moral, academic, and spiritual development of children; and
            (4) encourages active involvement of fathers in the rearing 
        and development of their children, including the devotion of 
        time, energy, and resources.
                                 <all>