[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 8]
[House]
[Pages 11361-11363]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING DESIGNATION OF YEAR OF THE FATHER

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 285) recognizing the important role 
that fathers play in the lives of their children and families and 
supporting the goals and ideals of designating 2010 as the Year of the 
Father.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 285

       Whereas Father's Day was founded in 1910 by Mrs. John B. 
     Dodd after attending a Mother's Day celebration in 1909 and 
     believing that fathers should receive the same recognition;
       Whereas Mrs. John B. Dodd, Sonora Smart Dodd, founded the 
     day in celebration of her father, William Smart;
       Whereas William Smart, a Civil War veteran, raised six 
     children on his own after the death of his wife;
       Whereas Spokane, Washington, recognized and hosted the 
     first celebration of Father's Day on June 19, 1910;
       Whereas in 1924, President Calvin Coolidge recognized 
     Father's Day and urged States to follow suit;
       Whereas in 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a 
     proclamation calling for the third Sunday in June to be 
     recognized as Father's Day and requested that flags be flown 
     that day on all government buildings;
       Whereas President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 
     1972 permanently observing Father's Day on the third Sunday 
     in June;
       Whereas Father's Day is celebrated in over 50 countries 
     around the world;
       Whereas there are an estimated 64.3 million fathers around 
     the Nation today;

[[Page 11362]]

       Whereas it is well documented that children involved with 
     loving fathers are significantly more likely to have healthy 
     self-esteems, exhibit empathy and prosocial behavior, avoid 
     high risk behaviors, have reduced antisocial behavior and 
     delinquency in boys, have better peer relationships, and have 
     higher occupational mobility relative to parents;
       Whereas fathers who live with their children are more 
     likely to have a close, enduring relationship with their 
     children than those who do not; and
       Whereas the 100th anniversary of Father's Day will be 
     celebrated in Spokane, Washington, on June 20, 2010: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the important role that fathers play in the 
     lives of their children and families; and
       (2) supports the goals and ideals of the Year of the 
     Father.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Payne) and the gentlewoman from Washington (Mrs. McMorris 
Rodgers) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous material on House 
Concurrent Resolution 285 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PAYNE. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Concurrent Resolution 
285, which honors and celebrates the observance of the centennial 
anniversary of Father's Day this past Sunday, and to recognize the 
importance of fatherhood. This resolution highlights the long history 
of Father's Day, first celebrated on June 19, 1910, to honor the love 
and commitment that fathers give our children and their families.
  Every year on the third Sunday in June, families across this Nation 
stop to thank fathers for the hard work and dedication it takes to be a 
supportive and involved parent. The tradition of Father's Day began 100 
years ago in Spokane, Washington. The day was first recognized 
nationally by President Coolidge in 1924, who urged States to follow 
suit. President Nixon signed the proclamation in 1972 permanently 
observing Father's Day as the third Sunday in June.
  Supportive fathers play a significant and influential role in their 
child's development. Children with loving fathers generally have 
healthier self-esteem, better peer relationships, more pro-social 
behavior, and an enjoyment of learning new skills. A positive 
environment at home also helps children thrive academically and get 
involved in extracurricular activities.
  By commending the hard work and dedication of fathers during the 
centennial celebration of Father's Day, we encourage responsible 
fatherhood and happy, successful, and stronger families and 
communities.
  I want to thank Representative McMorris Rodgers for bringing this 
resolution to the floor and urge my colleagues to pass this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. McMORRIS RODGERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 285, recognizing the important role that fathers play in the 
lives of their children and family, and recognizing this year, 2010, as 
the ``year of the father.''
  Unbeknownst to many, Father's Day has an especially significant 
meaning to the people of Spokane, Washington. This past Sunday, the 
city of Spokane celebrated the 100th anniversary of the founding of 
Father's Day, a national tradition that began in 1909 by a local 
Spokane woman, Sonora Smart Dodd. Looking for a way to recognize her 
father and those like him, Sonora Dodd publicly recognized her father 
in 1909, a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own after 
the death of his wife. From there, the city of Spokane established the 
first celebration of Father's Day at the local YMCA in 1910, and in the 
years following the celebration spread around the Nation. The 
resolution that we are considering today is a way to demonstrate our 
appreciation to fathers everywhere and to recognize the critical role 
they play in our lives.
  Research in the field confirms that children whose fathers play a 
significant role in their lives are much more likely to lead productive 
and healthy lives. Moreover, children with involved fathers are much 
more likely to have close, enduring relationships.
  I would like to congratulate Spokane on its 100th anniversary and 
recognize all the fathers out there like my own who have and continue 
to do so much for their children and families.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I urge the support of House Concurrent 
Resolution 285.
  As a father of three, grandfather of triplet grandchildren and 
another--four grandchildren, and one great grandchild, I certainly am 
here to say that I think that Father's Day is a wonderful day. I was 
very privileged to have my children take me to a wonderful brunch, as 
they do every Father's Day.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask the House to vote in favor of this resolution.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in order to express 
my support for H. Con. Res. 285, which recognizes the important role 
that fathers play in the lives of their children and families and 
supports the goals and ideals of designating 2010 as the Year of the 
Father. I would also like to commend Representative McMorris Rodgers 
for sponsoring this bill and showing her commitment to recognizing the 
crucial role of fathers.
  I grew up with both of my parents in my life. My father worked for 
the Department of Justice for a large portion of his career. He 
eventually became the Director of Classifications and Paroles for the 
Bureau of Prisons and was the highest ranking African-American in the 
Bureau at that time. I saw my father work hard everyday in an effort to 
provide for his family. His value system transferred to me, and I make 
it a point to influence my children in the same way my father 
positively influenced me. I know without a doubt that my father helped 
me to develop into the man I am today.
  There are numerous studies and statistics that all show fathers are 
crucial to the development of a child. Children who grow up with the 
love and care of their fathers are more likely to exhibit strong self-
confidence and are more likely to avoid high-risk behaviors.
  In honoring fathers with this resolution, I would also like to offer 
a challenge to all fathers to make an effort to develop healthy, loving 
relationships with their children. I challenge fathers not to be in the 
words of the Temptations ``rolling stones,'' but solid rocks on which 
their families can depend on.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with upmost sincerity that I support this solution 
and I urge my colleagues to do the same. It is my hope that this 
resolution serves as an inspiration for fathers all across this great 
Nation.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity 
to support the designating of 2010 as the Year of the Father. One-
hundred years ago, Father's Day was founded by a mother who recognized 
the vitally important role of fatherhood. As a father myself, I am 
honored and humbled by this annual day of recognition and celebration, 
and happily recall all the positive memories and influences my own 
father had with me.
  I'm sure that most people in this room already know of the importance 
of fathers. Fathers bring love, care, and emotional support that work 
in tandem with the support of mothers to bring about positive 
development for their children. For some, however, fatherhood is a 
foreign concept. Twenty-three percent of families with children in 2008 
were maintained by single mothers. Approximately sixty percent of 
children born during the 1990s lived or would live significant portions 
of their lives without fathers. For minorities, the numbers are even 
more daunting, with only thirty-five percent of African American 
children living with two married parents, and only fifty percent of 
children having regular contact with their fathers.
  For these same minority families, being a father is simply not the 
same. Barriers like education and access to jobs continue to restrict 
the involvement of men who would otherwise be involved fathers. While 
it is important to promote and celebrate the significance of fathers, 
it is equally important to recognize that fatherhood comes with varying 
obstacles

[[Page 11363]]

and responsibilities for every background. To fully promote a healthy 
nation and support the ideals behind designating 2010 as the Year of 
the Father, it is crucial that we pursue more opportunities for non-
custodial and would-be fathers to live up to their potential, and the 
potential of our present and future generations.
  It is my hope that by declaring 2010 as the Year of the Father, we 
would not only be honoring and recognizing the importance of fathers to 
the family, but also encouraging reform to make fatherhood a reality 
for countless Americans.
  Mr. PAYNE. I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 285.
  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. PAYNE. 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 motion will be 
postponed.

                          ____________________