HCR 16

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.