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[DOCID: f:sr106is.txt]






107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 106

   Encouraging and promoting greater involvement of fathers in their 
   children's lives and designating Father's Day 2001, as ``National 
                      Responsible Father's Day''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              June 6, 2001

    Mr. Bayh (for himself and Mr. Domenici) submitted the following 
    resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
   Encouraging and promoting greater involvement of fathers in their 
   children's lives and designating Father's Day 2001, as ``National 
                      Responsible Father's Day''.

Whereas 40 percent of children who live in fatherless households have not seen 
        their fathers in at least 1 year, and 50 percent of the children have 
        never visited their fathers' homes;
Whereas approximately 50 percent of all children born in the United States spend 
        at least \1/2\ of their childhood in families without father figures;
Whereas nearly 20 percent of children in grades 6 through 12 report that they 
        have not had a meaningful conversation with even 1 parent in more than 1 
        month;
Whereas 3 out of 4 adolescents report that they do not have adults in their 
        lives that model positive behaviors;
Whereas many of the leading experts on family and child development in the 
        United States agree that it is in the best interest of both children and 
        the United States to encourage more 2-parent, father-involved families;
Whereas it is important to promote responsible fatherhood and encourage loving 
        and healthy relationships between parents and their children in order to 
        increase the chance that children will have 2 caring parents to help 
        them grow up healthy and secure and not to--
            (1) denigrate the standing or parenting efforts of single mothers, 
        whose efforts are heroic;
            (2) lessen the protection of children from abusive parents;
            (3) cause women to remain in or enter into abusive relationships; or
            (4) compromise the health or safety of a custodial parent;

Whereas children who are apart from their biological fathers are, in comparison 
        to other children--
            (1) 5 times more likely to live in poverty;
            (2) more likely to be abused; and
            (3) more likely to--
                    (A) bring weapons and drugs into the classroom;
                    (B) commit crime;
                    (C) drop out of school;
                    (D) commit suicide;
                    (E) abuse alcohol or drugs; and
                    (F) become pregnant as teenagers;
Whereas the Federal Government spends billions of dollars to address these 
        social ills and very little to address the causes of such social ills;
Whereas millions of single mothers in the United States are heroically 
        struggling to raise their children in safe, loving environments;
Whereas millions of men do act responsibly and could serve as role models for 
        absent fathers;
Whereas responsible fatherhood should always recognize and promote values of 
        nonviolence;
Whereas child support is an important means by which a parent can take financial 
        responsibility for a child, and emotional support is an important means 
        by which a parent can take social responsibility for a child;
Whereas children learn by example, and community programs that help mold young 
        men into positive role models for their children need to be encouraged; 
        and
Whereas Congress has begun to take notice of this issue with legislation 
        introduced in both the House of Representatives and the Senate to 
        address the epidemic of absent fathers: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) designates Father's Day 2001, as ``National Responsible 
        Father's Day'';
            (2) recognizes the need to encourage active involvement of 
        fathers in the rearing and development of their children;
            (3) recognizes that while there are millions of fathers who 
        serve as a wonderful caring parent for their children, there 
        are children on Father's Day who will have no one to celebrate 
        with;
            (4) urges fathers to participate in their children's lives, 
        both financially and emotionally;
            (5) encourages fathers to devote time, energy, and 
        resources to their children;
            (6) urges fathers to understand the level of responsibility 
        required when fathering a child and to fulfill that 
        responsibility;
            (7) is committed to assisting absent fathers to become more 
        responsible and engaged in their children's lives;
            (8) calls upon fathers around the country to use the day to 
        reconnect and rededicate themselves to their children's lives, 
        to spend ``National Responsible Father's Day'' with their 
        children, and to express their love and support for their 
        children; and
            (9) requests that the President issue a proclamation 
        calling upon the people of the United States to observe 
        ``National Responsible Father's Day'' with appropriate 
        ceremonies and activities.
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