[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 73 (Tuesday, June 9, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H4249-H4253]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REGARDING IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS IN RAISING AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR 
                                CHILDREN

  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 417) regarding the importance of fathers in the 
rearing and development of their children, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 417

       Whereas studies reveal that even in high-crime, inner-city 
     neighborhoods, well over 90 percent of children from safe, 
     stable, two-parent homes do not become delinquents;
       Whereas researchers have linked father presence with 
     improved fetal and infant development, and father-child 
     interaction has been shown to promote a child's physical 
     well-being, perceptual abilities, and competency for 
     relatedness with other persons, even at a young age;
       Whereas premature infants whose fathers spend ample time 
     playing with them have better cognitive outcomes, and 
     children who have higher than average self-esteem and lower 
     than average depression report having a close relationship 
     with their father;
       Whereas both boys and girls demonstrate a greater ability 
     to take initiative and evidence self-control when they are 
     reared with fathers who are actively involved in their 
     upbringing;
       Whereas, although mothers often work tremendously hard to 
     rear their children in a nurturing environment, a mother can 
     benefit from the positive support of the father of her 
     children;
       Whereas, according to a 1996 Gallup Poll, 79.1 percent of 
     Americans believe the most significant family or social 
     problem facing America is the physical absence of the father 
     from the home and the resulting lack of involvement of 
     fathers in the rearing and development of their children;
       Whereas, according to the Bureau of the Census, in 1994, 
     19,500,000 children in the United States (nearly one-fourth 
     of all children in the United States) lived in families in 
     which the father was absent;
       Whereas, according to a 1996 Gallup Poll, 90.9 percent of 
     Americans believe ``it is important for children to live in a 
     home with both their mother and their father'';
       Whereas it is estimated that half of all United States 
     children born today will spend at least half their childhood 
     in a family in which a father figure is absent;
       Whereas estimates of the likelihood that marriages will end 
     in divorce range from 40 percent to 50 percent, and 
     approximately three out of every five divorcing couples have 
     at least one child;
       Whereas almost half of all 11- through 16-year-old children 
     who live in mother-headed homes have not seen their father in 
     the last twelve months;
       Whereas the likelihood that a young male will engage in 
     criminal activity doubles if he is reared without a father 
     and triples if he lives in a neighborhood with a high 
     concentration of single-parent families;
       Whereas children of single-parents are less likely to 
     complete high school and more likely to have low earnings and 
     low employment stability as adults than children reared in 
     two-parent families;
       Whereas a 1990 Los Angeles Times poll found that 57 percent 
     of all fathers and 55 percent of all mothers feel guilty 
     about not spending enough time with their children;
       Whereas almost 20 percent of 6th through 12th graders 
     report that they have not had a good conversation lasting for 
     at least 10 minutes with at least one of their parents in 
     more than a month;
       Whereas, according to a Gallup poll, over 50 percent of all 
     adults agreed that fathers today spend less time with their 
     children than their fathers spent with them;
       Whereas President Clinton has stated that ``the single 
     biggest social problem in our society may be the growing 
     absence of fathers from their children's homes because it 
     contributes to so many other social problems'' and that ``the 
     real source of the [welfare] problem is the inordinate number 
     of out of wedlock births in this country'';
       Whereas the Congressional Task Force on Fatherhood 
     Promotion and the Senate Task Force on Fatherhood Promotion 
     were both formed in 1997, and the Governors Fatherhood Task 
     Force was formed in February 1998;
       Whereas the Congressional Task Force on Fatherhood 
     Promotion is exploring the social changes that are required 
     to ensure that every child is reared with a father who is 
     committed to be actively involved in the rearing and 
     development of his children;
       Whereas the 36 members of the Congressional Task Force on 
     Fatherhood Promotion are promoting fatherhood in their 
     congressional districts;
       Whereas the National Fatherhood Initiative is holding a 
     National Summit on Fatherhood in Washington, D.C., with the 
     purpose of mobilizing a response to father absence in several 
     of the most powerful sectors of society, including public 
     policy, public and private social services, education, 
     religion, entertainment, the media, and the civic community;
       Whereas both Republican and Democrat leaders of the House 
     of Representatives and the Senate will be participating in 
     this event; and
       Whereas the promotion of fatherhood is a bipartisan issue: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes that the creation of a better America 
     depends in large part on the active involvement of fathers in 
     the rearing and development of their children;
       (2) urges each father in America to accept his full share 
     of responsibility for the lives of his children, to be 
     actively involved in rearing his children, and to encourage 
     the academic, moral, and spiritual development of his 
     children and urges the States to aggressively prosecute those 
     fathers who fail to fulfill their legal responsibility to pay 
     child support;
       (3) encourages each father to devote time, energy, and 
     resources to his children, recognizing that children need not 
     only material support, but more importantly a secure, 
     affectionate, family environment; and
       (4) expresses its support for a national summit on 
     fatherhood.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. McIntosh) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Martinez) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. McIntosh).

[[Page H4250]]

  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 417 expresses the importance of fathers 
in the rearing and development of their children. This is a bipartisan 
measure and has the support of both the majority and minority leaders.
  I am very pleased to have the opportunity this afternoon to move this 
resolution forward. Perhaps the committee selected me to move this 
forward because I am a recent father. Elizabeth Jenkins was born into 
our household last fall on October 23, and Ellie, as Ruthie and I have 
been calling her, is the source of unending joy for me and for my wife, 
and I share that joy with all of my colleagues who I know are also 
fathers, and it has meant a great deal to me.
  I hope today by this resolution to be able to share some of the sense 
of joy and importance of fathers in rearing our children, because it 
should be alarming to all of us that half of the children born today 
are likely to spend half of their childhood in a family in which a 
father figure is absent. We should be especially alarmed when study 
after study shows new evidence of the negative impact of an absent 
father on children.
  I would like to highlight one study in particular, a recent study 
that was released last October by the Department of Education's 
National Center of Education Statistics. This study, entitled 
``Father's Involvement in Their Children's Schools,'' found that a 
father's involvement, whether in a two-parent family, a single-father 
family, or a nonresident family had a very positive impact on the 
children.
  Specifically, this involvement increased the likelihood of their 
children getting mostly A's in schools, reducing the likelihood of 
their having to repeat a grade, and reduced the chance of being 
suspended or expelled from school. These associations remained even 
after controlling for other factors, such as the parents' education 
level, household income or the mother's involvement.
  The fact is, a strong father's presence can improve both fetal 
development and infant development, promote physical well-being, and 
increase the ability of children to get along with each other. 
Conversely, the lack of a strong father figure presents an increased 
likelihood of delinquency and criminal behavior when the child is 
grown.
  Social scientists are not the only ones who realize this. A 1996 
Gallup poll found that nearly 80 percent of Americans, 80 percent of 
Americans, believe the most significant family or social problem facing 
America is the physical absence of the father from the home and the 
resulting lack of the involvement of that father in the rearing and 
development of their children.
  Last year the leadership recognized this as well, and, with that 
leadership, they appointed a Task Force on Fatherhood Promotion led by 
the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. McIntyre), the gentleman from California (Mr. Rogan) and 
the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Turner). This congressional task force 
was formed, along with a similar task force in the Senate, as well as 
one by the national Governors.
  One of the main goals of these groups is to highlight the importance 
of fatherhood, to explore the social changes that are required and to 
ensure that every child, every child in America, is raised with a 
father who is committed to that child, who will be actively involved in 
the rearing of that child and be involved in the development of that 
child.
  On June 15, the National Fatherhood Initiative will hold a summit. It 
is a National Summit on Fatherhood here in Washington, D.C. The purpose 
is to mobilize a response to the problem of absent fathers. It will 
mobilize this response in several of the most important sectors in our 
community, the most powerful sectors in our society, including the 
public policy sector, private and public social services, education, 
religion, entertainment, the media, and the civic community.
  This resolution that we have before us today was first introduced to 
the House by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) and others who 
want to express support for such a summit. This resolution goes on to 
state that the House of Representatives, one, recognizes the creation 
of a better America depends in large part on the active involvement of 
fathers in the rearing and development of the children; two, it urges 
each father in America to accept his full share of responsibility for 
the lives of his children, to be actively involved in rearing the 
children and to encourage the academic, moral, and spiritual 
development of his children; and, thirdly, it encourages each father to 
devote time and energy and resources to his children, recognizing that 
children need not only material support, but, more importantly, the 
love of both parents, who provide an affectionate family environment.
  I would also note that during consideration of this resolution by the 
Committee on Education and the Workforce, an amendment by the gentleman 
from Tennessee (Mr. Ford) was unanimously accepted by the committee. 
This amendment added a clause urging the States to aggressively 
prosecute those fathers who failed to fulfill their legal 
responsibility to pay child support. I note that this amendment and 
modification is entirely consistent with the Deadbeat Fathers 
Punishment Act of 1998, which passed the House in May by a vote of 412 
to 2.
  In closing, I would like to commend the gentleman from Pennsylvania 
(Mr. Pitts), the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Ford) and all the 
members of the Task Force on Fatherhood Promotion, the majority and 
minority leadership and others involved for their efforts in this area. 
I urge my fellow Members to support this important resolution as we 
bring it to the House floor today, and, hopefully, we will have a 
unanimous vote in favor of it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to congratulate my colleague, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. McIntosh), on the birth of his first child. The committee 
selected him because he was a new father, I guess they selected me 
because I am an old father, being the father of 5 children, the 
grandfather of 14 children, and the great-grandfather of 2 children.
  I can tell the gentleman that he has got a lot to look forward to, 
especially when those children just before his eyes grow into adults, 
get married, and have children of their own. That is the greatest time, 
because you get to take your grandchildren and spoil them and send them 
home to their parents to run their parents crazy.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution and this topic, the importance of 
fathers in the raising and the development of their children, is 
extremely important. The role of the father in the family has been one 
of the more prominent issues to gain public attention in recent years.
  Too many of our children are growing up in families which do not have 
the benefit of a father. In fact, the percentage of children growing up 
in a home without their father nearly tripled between 1960 and the 
early 1990s. Today, over 24 million American children are living 
without their biological fathers.
  Most importantly, fatherless homes have a devastating impact on our 
children. National research tells us that without a father, children 
are four times as likely to be poor, twice as likely to drop out of 
school, et cetera. Fatherless children also have a higher risk of 
suicide, teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, and delinquency.
  Clearly, the important role that fathers play in the development of 
their children cannot go unnoticed. Unfortunately, the issue of 
absentee fathers is not restricted to those who do not pay child 
support, or ``deadbeat dads,'' as they are commonly referred to. Many 
fathers are tragically caught between their duties at work and their 
responsibilities to their families. The problems encountered by today's 
families are not limited to deadbeat dads. Today's families are also 
hampered by dead-tired dads, who want to be there for their children 
but do not have the time.
  In closing, I want to say I am encouraged by the work of the 
Congressional Fatherhood Promotion Task Force. Their efforts, 
throughout this resolution and other activities, have begun to center 
attention on this very important issue. I believe this resolution sends 
a strong message which all Members should support. I certainly do.

[[Page H4251]]

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts), the author of this resolution.
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join my colleagues today to reiterate 
the importance of fatherhood in this country. As one of the cofounders 
of the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Fatherhood Promotion, I 
am pleased to recognize the significance of this resolution.
  Today, Members of Congress will commit to promoting the role that 
faithful, dedicated fathers play in the development of our young people 
and, indeed, of our Nation; and, how timely, for it is again that time 
of year when we honor our dads. In two Sundays, we will celebrate 
Father's Day, a day to acknowledge the special place which dads hold in 
our hearts, and recognize dad's role as father, husband, teacher, 
provider, care-giver, and friend.
  Although every American has a father, not every American has a dad, 
one whom they know, love, spend time with and trust. Because of this 
fact, our country has suffered.
  The United States is now the world's leader in fatherless families. 
This has taken its toll in our society, when you need no longer talk 
about the Dan Quayle versus Murphy Brown debate. And we have a litany 
of statistics supporting the position that a family unit with mother 
and father is an ideal environment for our children.
  The realities are staggering. Four in ten children who go to bed 
tonight will sleep in a home in which their fathers do not reside. 
Overall, nearly 2.5 million children will join the ranks of the 
fatherless this year. This is a sad commentary. We must each be 
committed to bringing this to an end.
  But this is not just about fatherlessness. We as a society must work 
to elevate the importance of fathers who value their commitments. Men 
across America struggle to be good dads. Many of us are co-laborers in 
this struggle. This is why we as elected officials must be the ones to 
lead by example, to take up the bully pulpit in order to effect change 
in this spirit of this country.
  Through the events of the Congressional Fatherhood Promotion Task 
Force, we have sought to heighten the discussion of responsible 
fatherhood and emphasize the importance of fatherhood in neighborhoods 
and in community forums across the country.
  Working with the National Fatherhood Initiative, we are looking 
forward to the National Summit on Fatherhood next Monday. Leaders from 
across the country, from the highest levels of government here in 
Washington to sports figures such as Evander Holyfield, Michael 
Singletary and entertainment celebrities such as actor Tom Selleck, all 
will gather to honor the role of the father and to turn our momentum to 
action. We will gather at the J.W. Marriott next Monday for this 
fatherhood summit. All Members of Congress have been invited to take 
part in this event, and I hope many of them will come.
  The time has come for fathers to take hold of and be proud of their 
role as dad. In the words of filmmaker John Singleton, ``Any boy can 
make a baby; it takes a man to raise a son.'' The choice to place 
children above others is a noble one, and one which we as a society 
must recognize and reward.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution. In 
doing so, together, we can commit to promoting an office above all 
others in this country, that of the father.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to read the comments of the testimony that 
heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield recently gave to the 
Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families of the Committee on 
Education and Workforce.

                              {time}  1430

  He said, ``I, Evander Holyfield, did not meet my father until I was 
21 years of age. I missed the advice, the guidance, and time that only 
a father can give. However, thanks to my mother, Annie Laura Holyfield, 
and my coach at the Warren Boys' Club in Atlanta, Carter Morgan, I was 
given the faith, determination, and perseverance that helped make the 
boy into the man and father I am today.
  ``Perhaps the absence of my own father, but the presence of a strong 
and moral father figure in my childhood has helped me realize how 
important fatherhood is. In fact, being an active and caring father to 
my sons and daughters is just as important as being the three-time 
heavyweight champion of the world.''
  His wife spoke, and, finally, they said this: ``As father and mother 
to our children, even with the time constraints of our careers, we 
realize the importance of quality time with our children. Not only is 
this our obligation as parents, but it is also one of our greatest 
sources of joy. We especially stress the areas of faith and education 
with our children. We love them; and loving children requires not just 
good intentions and feelings, but also time and attention.
  ``We reiterate our strong feelings about this important issue. And 
with God's guidance and help, we will do our part in encouraging and 
elevating the status of fatherhood in America.''
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I would ask the Chair how much time is 
remaining on each side.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). The gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
McIntosh) has 8 minutes remaining. The gentleman from California (Mr. 
Martinez) has 17\1/2\ minutes remaining.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Bonior), the minority leader.
  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from California for 
yielding to me.
  First of all, Mr. Speaker, let me commend the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Pitts) for this resolution, also the gentleman from 
Texas (Mr. Turner), the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre), 
and others who have worked on this, the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Martinez), and others on this side of the aisle, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. McIntosh) who care about this issue.
  The life of a child, it goes without saying, is so critical and so 
important. Nobody can replace a father in the life of a child, nobody. 
Fathers are role models, and they are teachers, and they offer, as the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania mentioned in his comments by Mr. Holyfield, 
they offer the most important ingredients that a child could have in 
their childhood: love; guidance; encouragement; discipline, which is so 
critical, it would carry with a child throughout his or her life; 
wisdom; and, yes, inspiration.
  Fatherhood is a responsibility, perhaps one of the greatest 
responsibilities, in a man's life. It is also one of the greatest joys 
that a man can have, along with the bumps along the way in raising a 
child, the joy of having the input, giving the love, providing the 
guidance, providing the inspiration, the encouragement when it is 
needed. These are all so very important in a child's development.
  Mr. Speaker, America needs strong families, and America needs strong 
fathers. This resolution has been long in coming, and I am so proud of 
the fact that Members have decided to raise this issue to a higher 
level in the country today.
  Congress recognizes the important role fathers play and honors 
fathers for their contribution. So it is with great pride that I rise 
today to thank my colleagues for offering this resolution, for 
recognizing fatherhood, for setting aside a day in which we can, as a 
community, come together and recognize the great values that emanate 
from fatherhood.
  We sometimes talk about a lot of different issues in this 
institution, and we sometimes forget some of the very basic fundamental 
bedrock issues on which the others are built upon. Fatherhood is one of 
them. I am just very happy to be able to share some thoughts on this 
today.
  I thank my colleagues for their leadership in this, and wish the 
event that will take place much success, and wish those who have put 
this together and who are trying to make sure that fatherhood is 
respected in this country and is honored. I thank them for their 
efforts.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre).
  (Mr. McINTYRE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)

[[Page H4252]]

  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today as an original cosponsor of 
House Resolution 417, which recognizes the importance of fathers in the 
rearing and development of their children. This resolution makes it 
clear that a better America depends on a better job at home, a more 
active, positive role model of our fathers in the rearing and 
development of their children, and honoring those who do. This 
resolution also calls on fathers to continually accept their fair share 
of responsibility in rearing children.
  I am grateful for the example of love and leadership that my father 
has provided me throughout the years in the church and the community, 
and in civic, recreational, and political activities as well.
  I am also grateful for the many wonderful loving gifts of time, 
talent, and treasure that my mother has given me in my life. And how 
appropriate it is for me to have this opportunity to say ``thank you'' 
to them as they celebrate the beginning of their union fifty years ago 
tomorrow, June 10th, when they have their golden wedding anniversary.
  As one who served both as a charter member of the North Carolina 
Commission on the Family and a charter member of the North Carolina 
Commission on Children and Youth, I have looked at several legislative 
studies, considered several proposals.
  I am excited today to think that here in the United States that we 
are giving this long-taken-for-granted role that the father plays, a 
much emphasized one, that we can honor fathers and encourage fathers to 
fulfill that important role in the lives of children.
  This resolution emphasizes that family, faith, and future are the 
critical ingredients to the success of fathers here in America. First, 
unfortunately, the family often takes a back seat in many fathers' 
lives. Society itself has created an atmosphere in which job demands, 
commitments to various organizations and groups, and ambition often 
precede the responsibility at home.
  The number of men who complain that work conflicts with family 
responsibilities has risen from 12 percent in 1977 to a staggering 72 
percent in 1989. Other surveys show that 74 percent of fathers who live 
with their children prefer a ``daddy track'' job to a ``fast track'' 
job. Other studies show that positive father figures in the home 
clearly help reduce teen crime, reduce the dropout rate, and help 
reduce teen pregnancy.
  Second, in addition to family, we, as Americans, must have faith that 
fatherhood can bring positive change to society. That is why, as 
cochairman of the Fatherhood Promotion Task Force, along with my 
colleagues here today who have spoken, and as a father of two boys, 
support efforts to make fathers a more positive influence in their 
children's lives.
  Through a bipartisan effort such as you are witnessing right here 
before your eyes today, we can help focus national attention on the 
importance of the father in the home, or, where there may not be a 
father in the home for whatever reason, a positive male adult role 
model that can help fulfill that role. One step in this pursuit is H. 
Res. 417.
  Third, with family and faith, we can work toward a better future for 
our children and for our country. This resolution sends an important 
message to America that the U.S. House supports fatherhood and the 
upcoming National Summit on Fatherhood to be held right here in 
Washington next Monday, June 15.
  This resolution and the National Summit on Fatherhood can be just a 
beginning in mobilizing our society toward a positive and constructive 
response to the absence of fathers in home life.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure and to join me and to 
join all of us in the call for a positive force of fathers in the 
families, the faith, and the future of America.
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself 2\1/2\ minutes.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) hoped to be able to 
make it, but is not able to be on the floor right now to endorse this 
resolution. I know how devoted a father he is. In fact, when I first 
came here, he shared with me how he had a special line put in for his 
daughter, that was only her number, that she could reach him in his 
office at all times.
  He wanted to point out that oftentimes our government undermines the 
place of fathers in our society. When fathers abandon their families, 
our society does begin to break down. Fatherless children are five 
times more likely to be living in poverty. Violent crimes are committed 
overwhelmingly by males who grew up without fathers, 60 percent of 
America's rapists, 72 percent of adolescent murderers, and 70 percent 
of long-term prison inmates.
  This chart here shows some of those statistics that were put together 
by the fatherhood initiative on the problems for children in broken 
homes.
  It is also bad for the parents, by the way. If there are broken 
homes, it is likely the father will be more likely to suffer from 
respiratory diseases, more likely to have poor health and shorter life 
expectancy.
  So the studies show time and time again what all of us know in our 
hearts, that a family that is intact, a father loving his children is 
the best for all of us, but certainly for those children to be raised, 
as many of the speakers on both sides of the aisle have said, knowing 
that the love of their father is there to sustain them through those 
troubled times that we all have in our lives.
  One last thing in this 2\1/2\-minute segment, I wanted to share with 
my colleagues my favorite picture of my daughter and me that my wife 
took. She often will fall asleep on my chest. The knowledge that I 
have, that I have to protect and provide for her is an awesome 
responsibility. I would like to just encourage all of my colleagues 
here and all of those who are fathers around the country watching today 
never give up on that responsibility, because it will be a source of 
love and joy for you the rest of your lives.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as he may 
consume to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Sandlin).
  (Mr. SANDLIN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. SANDLIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of American 
families, American fathers, and House Resolution 417.
  As a father of four children, two boys and two girls, and a former 
youth baseball, basketball, and softball coach, someone active in Boy 
Scouts, a former juvenile judge, I believe that investment in our 
children is the finest and best investment that we can make in the 
United States of America to secure the future of this country.
  In today's society, a strong father figure is necessary. It is more 
important than it ever has been in the history of our country. Our 
children are faced today with many difficult choices, choices that I 
did not have to make as a young man, and choices that our parents did 
not have to make as young people.
  If they are to make the right choices and grow up to be strong, 
productive, moral citizens of this country, they need good and strong 
role models with whom they can identify. They need strong fathers. 
These models can be teachers, they can be preachers, they can be 
business leaders. They can be community leaders. They can be Members of 
Congress.
  But now, more than ever, children need their parents and need their 
families. Children look most often to their parent. Many times even now 
when I have decisions to make in life, I look back and think, what 
would my mom and dad do? My dad gave me the one piece of advice that I 
take with me day in and day out and always will. My father told me, 
``Do right.'' Do right. That is what I try to do.
  Right now the United States is the leader in fatherless families. 
That is a tragedy. And 30 percent of our families are single-parent 
families. That does not speak well for the future. It is a disgrace.
  Next week Washington will welcome the National Summit on Fatherhood. 
The theme this year is moving from rhetoric to action. The issue is too 
important for us simply to pay lip service to it. We have to put our 
action, we have to put our money where our mouth is.
  Now more than ever we need a national strategy to create effective 
solutions to the problems of a lack of leadership in American families. 
This gathering of civic, business, religious, philanthropic 
governmental and cultural

[[Page H4253]]

leaders should be just the catalyst we need to begin the discussion and 
to begin the strategy in this country.
  I urge all of my colleagues to support this. Support the American 
families. Support our fathers. Fathers in the Congress, let us take 
responsibility and work for H. Res. 417.
  Mr. MCINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, we have one more speaker on our side, and 
I would like to recognize him now. He is a freshman colleague of mine 
and also a father of four boys, who is expecting his fifth child 
sometime later this year.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Mississippi (Mr. Pickering).
  Mr. PICKERING. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the 
resolution recognizing the importance of fathers in America and also 
recognizing the hard and good work of the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
McIntosh). My wife is a godmother of the gentleman's recent new 
addition to his family, to his daughter, and we proudly celebrate that.
  As the gentleman mentioned, I am the father of four boys, four boys, 
ages 8, 6, 4 and 2; and we have just learned recently that the fifth is 
coming. This is my first public announcement of that good news, and so 
we are looking forward to maybe finding a little girl, maybe, somewhere 
in our house.

                              {time}  1445

  Today I rise first to recognize the role of my father and 
grandfathers in my life, not because it is unique to me, but it is 
because of what fathers and grandfathers have offered this country over 
our proud history. They taught me leadership and discipline. They 
showed me what sacrifice and service means. They showed me commitment 
and integrity to faith and to community. They have gave me the role 
model and the example and the path to follow.
  As we approach Father's Day, I want to first recognize the role of my 
own father and my grandfather, one who was a farmer and one who was a 
high school principal and teacher and dean of men, and the role they 
played in my life.
  My grandfather was committed to his wife, to his community, and to 
his church. He taught me what hard work meant and the joy of it. My 
father, who is now a Federal judge, taught me about public service. He 
is now the proud grandfather of 14 grandchildren, all under the age of 
11. So with Father's Day coming, I thank them.
  As we ask ourselves, what is the importance, what is the role of 
fatherhood in our country, let us put it in context. Let us put it in 
perspective. With the recent news of India and Pakistan and the 
possible escalation of the nuclear arms race, we say that that is a 
great threat to our security. We need to prepare for it and provide the 
resources, whatever it takes to defend ourselves in the future.
  But I say, the greatest threat to our security is the loss of fathers 
in the home, and the lack of men stepping up and taking on the 
responsibility of being at home to teach and to provide for the well-
being of their family.
  As we look at education today, the greatest indicator of whether we 
will have educational success or failure goes back to the home and the 
role of the father being there. Violence and drugs are again tied back 
to the breakdown of the family, the loss and the lack of the male role 
model, of men and fathers being there; poverty.
  Again, everything that we see facing our Nation, the greatest threats 
to our Nation, the greatest risk that we have, the greatest single 
determinant, the greatest factor that goes back to time and time again 
is whether men have accepted their role and have stepped up to the 
plate and assumed their responsibility. They have made a commitment and 
they have kept it.
  Our challenge today is to call all men to assume their role, their 
responsibility in their home to be good husbands and to be good 
fathers. More important than anything we can do in this place, in 
Congress, is what happens in the home and what happens in the House, 
what happens with our families.
  As the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. J.C. Watts) said, the most 
important title to him is not Congressman, but daddy. There is no 
title, there is no position greater; the President of the United 
States, congressman, teacher, doctor, lawyer, whatever your title may 
be. The highest honor and the greatest obligation and responsibility, 
the greatest joy, is being called daddy and playing the role, and 
accepting the responsibility of being a good father.
  Mr. MARTINEZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I will close by saying this is a resolution, as we have 
heard from people who are fathers and potential fathers, on how 
important the role of a father is. I think we simply have to look at 
the environment in which we live, where there are fatherless children, 
and those children usually run afoul of the law and have some kind of 
problem. We generally do not find that in a home where a father is 
present.
  I was raised with a family of 10 children, but that important 
ingredient we had in our home to make our lives a success was our 
father being there for us in our time of need. I would simply say to 
all of my colleagues, this is a resolution that should get a unanimous 
vote.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Let me first say, Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from 
California and all of the speakers on the Democratic side who have been 
wonderful supporters of this resolution. It truthfully is a bipartisan 
effort.
  Second, a very quick point, some people have asked me, what about the 
mothers involved? Of course, mothers are critical to the raising of our 
children, rearing of our children. I know I could not do it without my 
wife, Ruthie. And I know how much my mother meant to us, because, in 
fact, my father died when I was only 5 years old, and she had to serve 
both the role of mother and father in our family.
  But I think everyone knows that all of us in my family and every 
family where they may not have an ideal circumstance, we truly wished 
my father could have been there and been with us. What we are trying to 
say in this resolution is, to the fathers of America, do all you can to 
be there, to love your daughters, love your sons, and be a great father 
to them.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Upton). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. McIntosh) that the House 
suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 417, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  Mr. McINTOSH. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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