[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 256 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 256

Recognizing Father's Day and the role of father engagement in improving 
   the overall health and life outcomes for both the mother and baby.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 15, 2023

   Mr. Warnock (for himself, Mr. Schmitt, Mr. Bennet, and Mr. Braun) 
 submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Recognizing Father's Day and the role of father engagement in improving 
   the overall health and life outcomes for both the mother and baby.

Whereas Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June and will be 
        celebrated in the United States on Sunday, June 18, 2023;
Whereas increased father engagement can play an important role in--

    (1) improving maternal health care;

    (2) addressing maternal mortality and morbidity in the United States;

    (3) bettering the development of the child; and

    (4) the long-term growth of the child;

Whereas research has found that supporting families holistically and actively by 
        including and engaging fathers in all aspects of maternal health care, 
        from preconception, through pregnancy, and during the first-year 
        postpartum, can positively impact short term and long term health 
        outcomes, improving--

    (1) pregnancy and postpartum health, as when fathers are involved and 
engaged, mothers are--

    G    (A) more likely to receive early and regular prenatal care;

    G    (B) at reduced risk of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders 
(referred to in this preamble as ``PMADs'');

    G    (C) less likely to smoke, drink, or misuse drugs during the 
pregnancy and perinatal period;

    G    (D) more likely to eat well and take recommended vitamins;

    G    (E) more likely to follow the recommendations of a physician;

    G    (F) less likely to experience complications during pregnancy and 
labor; and

    G    (G) more likely to have a healthy, safe birth, and more likely to 
sustain breastfeeding; and

    (2) the health and well-being of the baby, including--

    G    (A) improving healthy development;

    G    (B) improving outcomes in school;

    G    (C) reducing rates of teen pregnancies;

    G    (D) reducing risk of substance use; and

    G    (E) improving future executive function;

Whereas methods to empower fathers as advocates for both mother and baby 
        include--

    (1) addressing cultural beliefs about fatherhood and the role of men in 
maternal health and families, especially beliefs that discourage father 
participation;

    (2) peer-to-peer, father-to-father encouragement and support;

    (3) involving fathers in prenatal and postpartum care;

    (4) providing fathers with information about what to expect before, 
during, and after birth, and how a father can better understand and support 
their partner, as well as to help the mother and father bond together as a 
parenting team; and

    (5) educating and engaging fathers in conversations and guidance about 
mental health, breastfeeding practices, health care appointments, safe 
sleep, physical touch, and father-child bonding and early childhood 
development;

Whereas 1 in 5 women experience a PMAD, with suicide being the leading cause of 
        preventable maternal deaths;
Whereas the added support of father engagement reduces the risks of PMADs and 
        contributes to--

    (1) a lower chance of preterm birth; and

    (2) a healthier birth weight;

Whereas the support of the father during pregnancy can help promote cessation of 
        smoking, drinking, and drug use in the mother;
Whereas father involvement during pregnancy has been linked with a 36 percent 
        reduction in smoking in a mother;
Whereas increasing outreach for fathers to join group prenatal care models and 
        to attend prenatal and postnatal appointments will help prepare both 
        parents and create opportunities for the parents to view pregnancy and 
        parenting as a team effort;
Whereas evidence shows that when fathers are involved during pregnancy 
        appointments and milestones, mothers are 1.5 times more likely to 
        receive prenatal care in the first trimester, which improves health 
        outcomes for both the mother and baby;
Whereas the participation of the father during prenatal care appointments 
        provides the mother with additional support to recognize potential 
        pregnancy-related complications that could lead to maternal morbidity 
        and mortality, such as--

    (1) preeclampsia;

    (2) preterm labor;

    (3) PMADs;

    (4) pregnancy loss or miscarriage;

    (5) stillbirth;

    (6) high blood pressure;

    (7) cervical infections;

    (8) gestational diabetes;

    (9) placental abruption;

    (10) ectopic pregnancy; and

    (11) uterine rupture;

Whereas physical contact between the father and the baby just after birth and in 
        the months following birth has been shown to support and improve the 
        health and development of the baby, improve the mental health of the 
        father, and foster father-child bonding in the short term and long term;
Whereas studies show that engaging fathers in conversations about safe sleep 
        guidelines can help increase safe sleep and reduce infant deaths;
Whereas providing fathers with guidance about infant crying and the risks of 
        shaken baby syndrome can reduce infant deaths;
Whereas the active support of the father during breastfeeding greatly increases 
        the chances of sustained breastfeeding, which improves the physical and 
        mental health of the baby and the mother;
Whereas removing barriers to father engagement can encourage greater involvement 
        during pregnancy, delivery, and parenthood, such as--

    (1) offering moderated father support groups and classes;

    (2) changing messaging about societal perceptions on the role of the 
father in pregnancy and parenting; and

    (3) health care providers offering prenatal appointments outside of 
regular work hours, through telehealth and through take-home father-focused 
resources; and

Whereas support from a warm and emotionally responsive father improves the life 
        and development of their child as the child grows into adolescence, as 
        the child--

    (1) is less emotionally reactive;

    (2) experiences less depression;

    (3) is less prone to mood and anxiety disorders; and

    (4) relates better with other children;

Whereas the sustained involvement of a father with their child to the age of 7 
        helps negate the risk of psychological maladjustment;
Whereas a trusting relationship between a caring father and son will help the 
        son grow into a strong father themselves;
Whereas a litany of research relates positive outcomes with increased father 
        involvement with their child, including--

    (1) higher academic achievement;

    (2) better school readiness and performance;

    (3) higher self-esteem; and

    (4) greater social awareness;

Whereas the involvement of a loving father in the life of a 16-year-old child 
        predicts less psychological distress for that child when they reach 
        adulthood;
Whereas 1,300 step families are formed every day and 1 out of every 25 families 
        with children have adopted a child, demonstrating a variety of 
        fatherhood experiences; and
Whereas the genuine love of a father is irreplaceable, and the positive 
        externalities that coincide with the love of a father prove both the 
        power of genuine affection and the responsibility fathers have in caring 
        for their children: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the important role of fathers in increasing 
        positive maternal health outcomes and reducing maternal 
        mortality and morbidity;
            (2) acknowledges that father engagement efforts provide 
        continuous physical and emotional support, which can contribute 
        to healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries, and successful 
        postpartum recoveries;
            (3) acknowledges that sustained engagement by a father 
        throughout the life of their child is a privileged 
        responsibility that fulfills the father as much as the child; 
        and
            (4) wishes all fathers and father figures in the United 
        States a happy Father's Day.
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