[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 12, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H6251-H6254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF FATHERS IN THE HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT OF 
                                CHILDREN

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 474) recognizing the immeasurable contributions of 
fathers in the healthy development of children, supporting responsible 
fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives 
of their children, especially on Father's Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 474

       Whereas fathers factor significantly in the lives of 
     children;
       Whereas fathers play an important role in teaching their 
     children life lessons and preparing them to succeed in school 
     and in life;
       Whereas children with involved fathers are more likely to 
     do well in school, have a better sense of well-being, and 
     have fewer behavioral problems;
       Whereas supportive fathers promote the positive physical, 
     social, emotional, and mental development of children;
       Whereas promoting responsible fatherhood can help increase 
     the chances that children will grow up with two caring 
     parents;
       Whereas, when fathers are actively involved in the 
     upbringing of children, the children demonstrate greater 
     self-control and a greater ability to take initiative;
       Whereas responsible fatherhood can help reduce child 
     poverty;
       Whereas responsible fatherhood strengthens families and 
     communities; 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 a 
     wonderful, caring parent 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.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Hare) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. David Davis) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Illinois.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the immeasurable contributions 
of fathers in the lives of children, especially as we prepare to 
celebrate Father's Day this Sunday, June 17. While the amount of time a 
father spends with his child can be quantified, the total contribution 
to his child's healthy development cannot. Children with involved 
fathers tend to do better in school, have fewer behavioral problems and 
demonstrate greater self-control.
  Supportive fathers also promote the positive physical, social, 
emotional, and mental development of their children. Responsible 
fatherhood can increase the chances children will grow up with two 
caring parents. Additionally, it can lead to reduction in child poverty 
and strengthen families as well as communities.
  So as we come upon Father's Day, we would like to recognize and thank 
the fathers throughout this country who play an active role in the 
lives of their children.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to pass House Resolution 474, 
recognizing the contributions of fathers in the healthy development of 
children, supporting responsible fatherhood and encouraging greater 
involvement of fathers in the lives of their children.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, as a proud father of two, 
I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 474, 
recognizing the immeasurable contribution of fathers in the healthy 
development of

[[Page H6252]]

children, supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging greater 
involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially on 
Father's Day.
  William Shakespeare wrote, ``It is a wise father that knows his own 
child.'' The truism of these words is exceedingly relevant today. The 
presence of two committed, involved parents contributes directly to 
better academic performance, reduced substance abuse, less crime and 
delinquency, fewer emotional and other behavioral problems, less risk 
of abuse and neglect and lower risk of teen suicide.
  The research is clear: Fathers factor significantly in the lives of 
their children. There is simply no substitute for the love, involvement 
and commitment of a responsible father.
  The fathers of yesteryear thought that merely being a good provider 
meant that they were good fathers. Fathers today have the 
responsibility to set aside quality time for their children in ways 
that may contribute to happy memories that last a lifetime. Fathers 
realize that their time with children is really an investment in them.
  Being an involved father is good for children and good for fathers. 
And while each father is a unique person who parents in his own way and 
style, there are some characteristics that good fathers have in common. 
Good fathers are involved in the lives of their children. They attend 
their children's school events, games and activities. They also involve 
their children in their lives and the adult world by taking them to see 
the workplace, taking them along when the car needs to be repaired or 
involving them in decisions that affect the family.

                              {time}  1110

  Good fathers set limits and are firm. They let their children know 
their beliefs and expectations but rely on explanations and reasoning 
rather than force. Indeed, today's lifestyles are changing. More and 
more fathers are effectively balancing their personal, work, and family 
times. Both children and fathers are realizing the importance of the 
father's role, and there are ever-increasing amounts of research being 
conducted on the father's role in today's families. These findings 
document the importance of the father's role, the profound influence of 
fathers in children's growth and development, and the characteristics 
that good fathers have in common.
  Fathers play a significant role in shaping the character of their 
children. By spending time with their sons and daughters, being stern 
yet fair disciplinarians, and listening to their experiences, fathers 
mold and shape their children into the men and women they will become. 
As advisers and role models, fathers help their children to understand 
the difference between right and wrong and to recognize how the 
decisions they make today can affect the rest of their lives. Fathers 
instill important values that prepare their children for the challenges 
and opportunities ahead by demonstrating true leadership. Their love 
and devotion inspire the future generation of Americans to achieve 
their dreams and demonstrate the true spirit of our country.
  A father is one of the most important influences in a child's life. 
On Father's Day and every day, we honor our fathers and celebrate the 
special bond between a father and a child. I am honored to rise today 
in support of this resolution and in honoring all of our fathers for 
the roles that they play and for the love they give.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may insert materials relevant to House Resolution 474 into the 
Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to a 
member of the House Education and Labor Committee, my good friend, 
Representative Davis from Illinois.
  (Mr. DAVIS of Illinois asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. First of all, I want to thank my colleague, 
the gentleman from Illinois, for yielding time, and I also want to 
commend him for the tremendous leadership that he continues to play, 
even as a new Member of Congress.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 474 and take this 
opportunity to congratulate all of my colleagues who hold the honor and 
privilege of fatherhood. It is widely understood and acknowledged that 
the benefits of an actively involved father in the lives of children 
not only helps but plays a vital role in the formation of successful 
youth and in the development of contributing members of society. It 
should come as no surprise that, according to the U.S. Department of 
Health and Human Services, fatherless children are at a dramatically 
greater risk of drug and alcohol abuse. We know that fatherless 
children are twice as likely to drop out of school. Just over 41 
percent of fatherless families with children are poor, while only 7 
percent of children headed by a married couple are considered poor. 
Furthermore, over two-thirds of mother-only families live twice below 
the poverty line.
  Our work today and our work in Congress should not only focus on 
acknowledging fatherhood but it should focus on empowering fathers to 
have the capabilities and incentives to be more responsible for their 
children. Barriers to employment, such as a lack of high school or 
college degree, as well as criminal histories and substance abuse, all 
contribute to the lack of fathers in the household and the lack of a 
regular source of income and the ability to contribute to the family. 
It is not enough to fill this room with words. The only way to improve 
the ever-increasing number of families without fathers is through 
targeting the problems that fathers face by going to the source. One 
way of doing this is through support of the Responsible Fatherhood and 
Healthy Families Act. Removing employment barriers for noncustodial 
parents, which mostly tend to be fathers, would be of tremendous 
benefit. By funding grants to promote reasonable fatherhood, we are 
directly promoting the futures of innocent children while concurrently 
strengthening the family.
  Social scientists have for years debated the role of the father in 
the family. It is consistently among the top interest of psychologists. 
Leading professionals indicate that fathers provide role models for 
their sons to learn how to be a man, whereas girls need fathers to 
learn how to relate to a man in significant ways. Fathers also tend to 
constrain and correct violent and antisocial behavior better than 
anyone else, as well as challenge and promote such characteristics as 
independence, assertiveness, and achievement. But this is not a new 
phenomenon. George Herbert, the famous medieval poet and orator, 
understood. He said that one father is more than a hundred 
schoolmasters. How true that word is today.
  I conclude, Mr. Speaker, by remembering the fact that every year I 
give away scholarships, money that we go out and kind of find for kids 
to go to college. And on the form, there is an application that says, 
put down the name of your mother and father, what they do. I must 
confess that I have been most disheartened, because in some instances 
children have written on the application form, DNA, meaning that the 
name of the father does not apply. In some instances they have even 
written ``unknown.'' Or in other instances they have written 
``irrelevant.'' Or ``does not matter.'' If we are to strengthen 
families, if we are to strengthen our society, then we must find a way 
to help so many of the individuals who have been out of the picture to 
cop back in and take on their responsible role of fatherhood.
  I thank the gentleman again from Illinois for yielding time. I thank 
you, Mr. Speaker. And I also use this moment to say thank you to my own 
father who died 2 years ago, 92 years old. Much of the reason that I 
stand here today is because of him.
  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I would like to yield as 
much time as he may consume to my good friend and fellow Tennessean, 
Mr. Duncan.
  Mr. DUNCAN. I want to first thank the gentleman from Tennessee for 
yielding me this time. I want to also commend the gentleman from North 
Carolina (Mr. McIntyre) for bringing

[[Page H6253]]

this resolution before us today and commend all of the cosponsors, Mr. 
Davis and others.
  Mr. Speaker, some people might think this is an insignificant 
resolution. I think there is probably very little that we could talk 
about today that would be more important than fatherhood and the 
important role it plays in the life of this Nation. This was brought 
home to me most vividly in January 1981 when I became judge of the 
criminal court in Knox County, Tennessee, trying felony criminal cases, 
the murders, rapes, armed robberies, the most serious cases. I was told 
that first day by Gary Tullock, the chief probation counselor for east 
Tennessee, 16 counties in east Tennessee, that 98 percent of the 
defendants in felony cases came from father-absent households. I'm not 
sure that it is quite that high, but I know it's well over 90 percent. 
It's the entire crime problem.
  I hasten to say that I know many good people have come from father-
absent households, but I also know that children cannot raise 
themselves. And because 96 or 97 percent of the people plead guilty in 
criminal cases and then apply for probation, I went through over 10,000 
cases in the 7\1/2\ years that I served as judge. I cannot tell you how 
many times I read over and over and over and over again: ``Defendant's 
father left home to get pack of cigarettes and never came back.'' 
``Defendant's father left home when defendant was 2 and never 
returned.''
  And so I can say this, that father-absent households not only are the 
root of our crime problem, all the things like drugs and alcohol and 
all of that come secondary. I know there are exceptions to everything 
that you say, but we need to get into the minds of our young people and 
teach them how important it is that fathers don't desert their children 
as so many millions of fathers have unfortunately over the years and 
have gone out of the lives of their children much to the detriment of 
those young people and to the detriment of this Nation.
  I support this resolution and I commend all of those who have brought 
this to the floor today.

                              {time}  1120

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. McIntyre).
  Mr. McINTYRE. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to rise today in strong 
support of H. Res. 474, recognizing the immeasurable contributions of 
fathers in the healthy development of children, supporting responsible 
fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives 
of our children, especially on this coming Father's Day.
  I want to thank Chairman George Miller, Ranking Member McKeon, and 
all of the members on the Education and Labor Committee. And I would 
like to thank Mr. Hare for supporting this resolution and helping to 
bring it to the floor this week. I also want to thank the staff of the 
National Fatherhood Initiative for their assistance with this 
resolution and their tireless efforts on a year-around basis to promote 
responsible fatherhood across this great Nation.
  Father's Day was first conceived in 1909 by Sonora Dodd in Spokane, 
Washington. In 1966, President Lyndon Johnson issued a Presidential 
proclamation designating the third Sunday in June as Father's Day. And 
in 1972, President Richard Nixon signed a public law making that public 
designation permanent.
  Here in Congress I am grateful we have an opportunity to have a task 
force on fatherhood promotion that also works on a year-round basis 
with the National Fatherhood Initiative and with many Members of 
Congress on a bipartisan basis to support the positive initiatives of 
involving fathers in their children's lives and honoring those fathers 
on a national basis who have been upheld for making a difference in 
children's lives everywhere.
  This is a task force that Congressman Joe Pitts and I started 11 
years ago when we first came to Congress, and I am thrilled that over 
the last decade and past year that it has gone well, and we have an 
opportunity each year to come to the floor with a resolution such as 
this one.
  This Sunday, June 17, Americans will celebrate Father's Day once 
again. We use this day to honor the contributions made by the estimated 
64.3 million fathers in the United States. We also use this day to 
encourage all fathers to reflect on the responsibility fathering a 
child requires and the importance of their involvement in the lives of 
their children.
  With two sons of my own, Joshua and Stephen, who have been here often 
on this floor, I know firsthand the rewards and responsibilities of 
being a father; and I am grateful, indeed, to my own father, Dr. 
Douglas McIntyre, back home in Lumberton, North Carolina, for his 
impact upon my life.
  It is only appropriate that Father's Day be a tribute, that we here 
in the U.S. House of Representatives pass this resolution in 
recognition of the contributions of fathers everywhere. I strongly 
encourage all of my colleagues to support this.
  Mr. DAVID DAVIS of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, in honor of my own father, 
Lawrence Davis, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I just want to briefly close by saying 
something about my own father.
  As the gentleman from Tennessee was talking about his dad, I have 
three sisters, and I can remember my dad having to work three jobs to 
make ends meet for our family. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't 
for him. I miss him terribly. He has been gone a number of years, but 
today, as we honor fathers, I remember him and thank him.
  One thing my dad did every night when we had dinner, when he could 
make it, was to tell a joke to my three sisters and myself. He said 
this world is such a serious place to live in, every now and then you 
need to laugh and smile. I remember that each and every day. I hope my 
father gave me sense of humor that sometimes people find a little 
annoying.
  Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support 
of H. Res. 474. As we approach Father's Day weekend, it is appropriate 
for us to recognize the importance of fathers in the lives of their 
children. Children who live with their fathers do better in school, are 
less likely to use drugs or engage in other criminal behavior, and are 
less likely to experience health, emotional, or behavioral problems. In 
so many ways, involved fathers provide needed support for their 
children and serve as role models as they develop.
  Unfortunately, too many children today do not live with or even 
frequently see their fathers. This has forced millions of young mothers 
across the Nation to single-handedly raise their children, struggling 
to provide them with the love and support needed to succeed in today's 
world. It is a sad reality that for millions of children, their mother 
has to play the role of both mom and dad, a task that is not only 
difficult for the mother but which despite her efforts far too often 
results in that child living in poverty, among other challenges.
  To help address this situation, the 1996 welfare reform law included 
promoting marriage and family formation and the maintenance of two-
parent families as key purposes of welfare programs.
  Under the direction of the Ways and Means Committee on which I serve, 
legislation reauthorizing the 1996 welfare reform law in the last 
Congress included specific funding for healthy marriage and fatherhood 
grant programs to improve the well-being of children. These fatherhood 
grants were designed to promote responsible fatherhood by funding 
projects developed by public, private, and often faith-based groups to 
help fathers establish positive relationships with their children and 
the children's mothers, improve job skills, increase child support 
payments, and promote marriage among parents. Activities can include 
counseling, mentoring, providing information about the benefits of 
marriage and two-parent involvement for children and the prevention of 
domestic violence and child abuse, financial planning seminars, and 
education on good parenting practices.
  Last October, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 
announced $119 million in awards to 225 grantees for promotion of 
healthy marriages and responsible fatherhood. These grants are designed 
to make a difference in the lives of children, fathers, and families by 
supporting groups already at work trying to help men become better 
fathers.
  As we honor our own fathers this week, we should also thank those who 
are working every day to help more men become better fathers. The last 
Congress took concrete steps to support them. In the congressional 
district I represent, a recent fatherhood event took place that is 
described in the June 11 Catholic News Service article, provided below. 
As efforts such as this and those supported by the recent Federal 
grants take hold, we will be watching for evidence that more children 
are

[[Page H6254]]

spending every day, and not just Father's Day, with an involved and 
supportive father.

            [From the Catholic News Service, June 11, 2007]

Fathers' Involvement Key in Lives of Children, Says Catholic Charities 
                               Conference

                            (By Paul Storer)

       Joliet, IL. (CNS).--A convicted drug dealer, 28-year-old 
     Exulam Holman knows his actions have caused pain to those 
     closest to him. The father of three young children, former 
     gang member and ex-addict was released three months ago from 
     prison. Today, he is desperately trying to put his life in 
     order.
       Holman's painstaking quest to reclaim his life spurred him 
     to take part in a fatherhood conference sponsored by Catholic 
     Charities of the Diocese of Joliet. ``I want to make things 
     right for my kids,'' he told the Catholic Explorer, Joliet 
     diocesan newspaper, during the June 2 event.
       ``I've messed up,'' he said. ``But I've asked God to help 
     me. I have to get myself right with God.''
       About 100 people attended the third annual conference, 
     aimed at getting fathers more involved in the lives of their 
     children, said Ronald Roseboro, site supervisor of early 
     childhood services for Catholic Charities and coordinator of 
     the event.
       Fathers of children in the agency's early childhood 
     programs were encouraged to attend the gathering, said 
     Roseboro. Other fathers from Joliet and surrounding 
     communities were also invited to attend.
       The presence of two nurturing parents minimizes the 
     possibility their children will abuse drugs or alcohol, join 
     gangs or involve themselves in other dangerous situations, 
     said Roseboro. A father's leadership and guidance has a 
     definite impact on his children's lives, he continued. ``It's 
     like dropping a pebble into a pond and watching the ripples 
     it makes.''
       Guest speakers from diverse backgrounds led various 
     workshops during the conference.
       A father of five, Rev. Eugene Fears, pastor of Joliet's 
     Redeem Church of God in Christ, spoke of healthy 
     relationships. The no-nonsense preacher relied on his own 
     experiences to build a case for sound communication and 
     devotion between spouses.
       ``A commitment pushes through adversity,'' he told 
     conference participants. He urged the men to ``learn to make 
     adjustments'' and to avoid ``self-centered'' attitudes. ``We 
     need to learn to give of ourselves,'' Rev. Fears said.
       Fathers who leave and don't compensate their families are 
     often called ``deadbeat dads,'' but the reality is they are 
     often simply ``dead broke,'' Warren Cottrell, director of the 
     Joliet branch of the Illinois Child Support Enforcement 
     program, said in an interview with the Explorer. He was on 
     hand to field questions from participants during the 
     conference.
       Most fathers understand their responsibilities. They choose 
     to turn their backs on their families, however, when they 
     realize they cannot adequately provide for them. ``It's the 
     male ego,'' said Cottrell.
       Applauding Catholic Charities for broaching the topic with 
     the conference, the administrator noted that fathers must be 
     encouraged to do the right thing.
       Cottrell said the welfare system in Illinois has many 
     cracks. Jobless fathers are leaving their families so mothers 
     can qualify for government aid. There are countless programs 
     for single mothers in need of assistance. At the. same time, 
     government programs need to be created to educate fathers and 
     provide them with skills to remain with their families, he 
     said.
       Darnell Terrell's children participate in the Catholic 
     Charities Head Start program at St. John's Head Start Center 
     in Joliet. The owner of a disc-jockey business and father of 
     six praised the other men who attended the conference. ``It 
     takes a real man to listen to others about fatherhood 
     responsibilities.''
       Kenneth White and Donald Waddell, human services 
     consultants and family counselors, shared startling 
     statistics compiled by the National Fatherhood Initiative 
     during their workshop. The findings highlight the fact that 
     the absence of fathers has a serious effect on families.
       More than 70 percent of teens who have committed homicide 
     grew up without fathers. Approximately 60 percent of rapists 
     were raised in fatherless homes. Three out of four teen 
     suicides occur in single-parent families. And the list goes 
     on and on, they said.
       Substance abuse fuels domestic problems that work to break 
     families apart, according to the two experts in the field. 
     Presenting a workshop on the effects of addiction on 
     fatherhood, White and Waddell described the impact that 
     narcotics and alcohol have on the family unit and discussed 
     some proven methods for combating the problem.
       Addiction among parents needs to be addressed and curbed, 
     Waddell told the Explorer, because children of parents who 
     abuse drugs often become addicted themselves during 
     adolescence and later in life. ``We want to break that 
     cycle,'' he said.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Hare) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, H. Res. 474.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will 
be postponed.

                          ____________________