[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22415]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD AND HEALTHY FAMILIES ACT OF 2007

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, there is broad agreement that 
fathers matter in the upbringing of children. Studies show that 
children raised in the absence of a father are more likely to live in 
poverty. Children whose fathers interact with them on a regular basis 
on such daily activities as helping with homework, enjoying 
recreational opportunities and sharing meals have higher self-esteem 
and are better learners.
  Children raised in the absence of a father are more likely to engage 
in risky behaviors such as early sexual activities, as well as drug and 
alcohol use. Statistics demonstrate that boys raised in fatherless 
homes are more likely to become violent.
  No one argues that there is any one model of family structure, but 
the elimination of government barriers to healthy relationships and 
healthy marriages, the promotion of cooperative parenting skills, and 
the fostering of economic stability and the provision of incentives to 
noncustodial parents to fulfill financial and emotional support 
responsibilities are clearly in the best interest of millions of 
children.
  What we have learned is that even effective fatherhood programs 
cannot by themselves address the growing crisis arising out of the 
trend toward a single-parent home. What is required is a national 
social infrastructure which supports effective fatherhood. Therefore, 
on Friday of this week, I, with Representative Artur Davis, Julia 
Carson, Bobby Rush and others shall introduce the Responsible Healthy 
Fatherhood Act.
  The Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2007 restores 
cuts in Federal child support and requires States to pass through 100 
percent of collected child support payments. It prohibits unfair and 
unequal treatment of two-parent families receiving TANF. It provides 
grants to help reduce barriers to healthy family relationships and 
obstacles to sustainable employment.
  The Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Families Act of 2007 ensures 
equal funding for programs such as mediation and conflict resolution. 
It provides funding for partnership between domestic violence 
prevention organizations and fatherhood or marriage programs to train 
staff in domestic violence and domestic violence prevention.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation is designed to promote healthy family 
living; and I encourage all of my colleagues to take a hard look at it 
and support it.

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