Affirming that fatherhood is essential to the development of all children.

89(R) HCR 16 - Introduced version - Bill Text

89R5214 KRT-F

By: Schatzline

H.C.R. No. 16

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Fathers play an important role in nurturing and

supporting children, enabling them to learn, develop, and reach

their full potential; and

WHEREAS, Fatherlessness and the lack of important role models

in the lives of children today are factors of the violence and

unrest we are witnessing in our state and across our nation; and

WHEREAS, Despite some successful legislation and the

creation of fatherhood initiatives, fatherless homes are still

prevalent; and

WHEREAS, Research shows children do best when raised by two

parents in a committed, long-term marriage; and

WHEREAS, According to the United States Census Bureau,

18,400,000 children in the United States live without a father in

the home, and 2.5 million children in Texas live in single-parent

homes; and

WHEREAS, Data supports the hypothesis that having strong male

role models in the home helps prevent suicide, behavioral

disorders, juvenile detention, substance abuse, aggression,

violence, and teen pregnancy; and

WHEREAS, Fathers play an important role in teaching important

life skills, providing guidance through challenges, and helping

children persevere through adversity; and

WHEREAS, By promoting fatherhood with amended policies that

remove disincentives to two-parent households, and by following

evidence-based practices, the number of fatherless homes will

decrease across all communities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas

hereby

(1) affirms the importance of fatherhood in caring

for, nurturing, and supporting children throughout their lives;

(2) supports the efforts of public officials,

community leaders, faith leaders, and all citizens to promote and

encourage engaged fatherhood;

(3) recognizes the impact that fatherlessness has had

on American children in creating obstacles for children to learn,

grow, develop, and live fulfilling and rewarding lives;

(4) recognizes misaligned incentives in the structure

of state welfare programs and the barriers they create in allowing

fathers to return home to their spouse and children;

(5) supports programs and initiatives to provide

incarcerated individuals with the tools and skills to seek

meaningful employment opportunities upon serving their time in

detention;

(6) reaffirms support for efforts to encourage

educational opportunities and economic development in minority

communities, such as the First Step Act and Opportunity Zones;

(7) commits to researching and understanding the root

causes of fatherlessness and crafting public policy that supports

and encourages fully engaged fatherhood;

(8) supports addressing the difficulties of child

custody as it relates to alimony and child support;

(9) supports exploring programs that help promote male

role models in children's lives, including through foster parenting

and mentoring programs, and in so doing reduce overall government

dependency and social breakdown; and

(10) recognizes the threat of government growth to

prosperity, responsibility, and liberty, and thus embraces the

important role that the private sector, including faith-based

organizations, can often play in lieu of direct government

involvement.