[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E664]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E664]]
              TO PROTECT PRIVATE DECISIONS ABOUT MARRIAGE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 30, 2002

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce a resolution ``To Protect 
Private Decisions About Marriage.'' The decision to marry is one of the 
most personal and important decisions that many of us will make in our 
lifetime. When you ask someone to spend the rest of his or her life 
with you, it should be done out of love, admiration, devotion and 
respect. Choosing to get married is a truly monumental decision and is 
usually one of the most memorable moments of our lives.
  Because the decision to marry is such a personal one, interference 
from outside parties is rarely warranted or appreciated. Many Americans 
turn to their friends, family or religious leaders when making a 
decision about marriage. Others turn only to their future partner. No 
one, however, turns to the government. And for good reason. Government 
interference in decisions about marriage is simply not warranted.
  Unfortunately, President Bush does not agree. The Bush Administration 
has proposed to spend $30 million dollars to promote marriage in this 
year's welfare reauthorization bill. This misguided policy intrudes on 
private decision between adults and takes needed funs away from 
programs that actually help raise poor people out of poverty.
  This year, Congress must consider legislation to reauthorize the 
welfare program. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) 
program, passed in 1995, helped many citizens find work, but not 
necessarily work that pays a living wage. As we consider reauthorizing 
TANF, we have an opportunity to direct our welfare program toward the 
important goal of lifting the poor out of poverty. The Bush 
administration, however, would rather push poor people into marriage.
  Stable, healthy marriages are very important for raising our 
children. The very institution of marriage is a cornerstone of our 
society and is a critical element in creating stable families.
  Marriage is not for everyone, though. Some people simply cannot make 
marriages work, for personal, religious or other reasons. In more 
tragic cases, marriage is literally not safe because of an abusive 
spouse. Government involvement in marriage, therefore, is just not 
appropriate.
  The American people agree. According to a recent Pew Research Center 
study, 79 percent of Americans believe the government should not 
develop programs to encourage people to marry or remain married. 
Furthermore, 66 percent of Americans who identify themselves as 
``strongly religious'' believe the government should not interfere with 
decisions about marriage, according to the same poll. The American 
people clearly do not agree with the President's proposal.
  In addition, government interference in promoting or coercing people 
to marry could have unintended, tragic consequences. According to a 
joint report by the Departments of Justice and Health and Human 
Services, 25 percent of women said they have been raped or physically 
assaulted by their current or former spouse. More alarming still, 
research shows that 60 percent of women on welfare have suffered from 
domestic violence. As these statistics confirm, if government were to 
encourage or coerce someone on welfare to get married, it would not 
guarantee a healthier or safer family, and it could endanger the lives 
of mothers and children.
  Not only is government involvement in promoting marriage a 
potentially dangerous endeavor and an unnecessary intrusion of privacy, 
it also takes money away from programs that really do create more 
stable and healthy families.
  The problems facing poor people on welfare won't be solved by getting 
married. What families on welfare need is greater access to childcare, 
healthcare and job training. Evidence shows that an overwhelming 
obstacle for welfare parents looking for a job is the lack of quality, 
affordable childcare for their children. Providing better, stable 
childcare has proven working adults in employment. This applies to 
healthcare and job training as well. By providing better healthcare and 
more access to job training, we can equip poor families with the tools 
they need to provide for their families and have more stable lives. Why 
should we waste $300 million coercing people to get married when that 
money could be better spent helping people out of poverty?
  The Bush Administration's marriage promotion proposal is misguided, 
potentially harmful, and not supported by the American people. The 
resolution that I am introducing today says it is the sense of Congress 
that government resources not be used to influence, promote, or coerce 
individuals' private decisions about marriage. I hope my colleagues 
will join with me in supporting this important resolution and I call on 
the Bush Administration to reconsider this ill-advised proposal.

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