[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H963]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          PRESERVING MARRIAGE

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Madam Speaker, healthy families are fundamentally 
important to a healthy America. This should go without saying. 
According to our best data, out-of-wedlock births and weakened 
marriages are the principal causes of child poverty, welfare 
dependence, crime, drug use, and child abuse. But the Federal 
Government spends $150 billion, that is with a B, on welfare programs 
to subsidize and support single-parent families, and only $150 million 
trying to reduce out-of-wedlock births.
  In other words, we spend 1,000 times as much money supporting single-
parent families as we spend encouraging parents to commit to raising 
their children together.
  It is time we remembered the traditional two-parent family. Single 
parents often do a great job, even against the odds. There are millions 
of heroic single parents in this country doing their best to support 
and raise their children. But ask them what they think, and they will 
be the first to tell you that kids would be better off with both mother 
and dad caring for them.

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