**Celebrate Fathers on Father's Day**

Dear Colleague:

As we celebrate Father\'s Day, please join me in honoring fathers by
cosponsoring a resolution, at the bottom of this Dear Colleague, to
recognize fathers. I will soon introduce this resolution to support
responsible fatherhood and encourage greater involvement of fathers in
the lives of their children.

Fathers play a critical role in the development of our youth. In
addition to traditionally being the head of the household, these men
must serve as both the spiritual leaders and protectors of their family.
Millions of men throughout this country effectively execute these duties
each day. Their children, in return, learn to be confident and
productive citizens.

Every child deserves the love and attention of their father. This is a
simple fact. But we know that simple is not always synonymous with easy.
In the chaotic and increasingly busy world, it is important to
understand and more important to demonstrate that children are their
fathers' number one priority.

The promotion of responsible fatherhood does not and should not diminish
the outstanding efforts of single mothers, grandparents, or other
caretakers. However, we should take the opportunity of Father's Day to
celebrate fathers, and urge men to understand the level of
responsibility fathering a child requires, especially in the
encouragement of the moral, academic, and spiritual development of
children.

To become an original cosponsor this resolution, contact Wendy Dér in my
office at 225.2211.

> Sincerely,
>
> John Sullivan
>
> Member of Congress

109TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION

**H. RES.** \_\_

**RESOLUTION**

Supporting responsible fatherhood and encouraging greater

involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially

on Father's Day.

**Whereas** 40 percent of children who live in fatherless households in
the United States have not seen their fathers in at least 1 year, and 50
percent of such children have never visited their fathers' homes;

**Whereas** approximately 50 percent of all children born in the United
States spend at least half of their childhood in families without father
figures;

**Whereas** 3 out of 4 adolescents in the United States report that they
do not have adults in their lives that serve as positive role models;

**Whereas** children who are apart from their biological fathers are, in
comparison to other children, 5 times more likely to live in poverty,
and more likely to bring weapons and drugs into the classroom, commit
other crimes, drop out of school, commit suicide, abuse alcohol or
drugs, or become pregnant as teenagers;

**Whereas** the Federal Government spends billions of dollars to address
these social ills and very little to promote responsible fatherhood;

**Whereas** children with fathers at home tend to do better in school,
to be less prone to emotional and behavioral problems and to have more
successful relationships;

**Whereas** boys and girls alike demonstrate greater self-control and
ability to take initiative when fathers are actively involved in their
upbringing;

**Whereas** promoting responsible fatherhood can help increase the
chances that children will grow up with two caring parents;

**Whereas** the promotion of responsible fatherhood should not denigrate
the standing or parenting efforts of single mothers, whose efforts are
heroic, lessen the protection of children from abusive parents, cause
women to remain in, or enter into, abusive relationships, or compromise
the health or safety of a custodial parent;

**Whereas** a broad array of the Nation's leading family and child
development experts agree that it is in the best interests of children
and the Nation as a whole to encourage more two-parent families where
the father is actively involved with his children;

**Whereas** in a study of fathers' interaction with their children in
intact two-parent families, nearly 90 percent of the fathers surveyed
said that being a father is the most fulfilling role a man can have;

**Whereas** according to a 1996 Gallup poll, 90.3 percent of Americans
agree that fathers make a unique contribution to their children's lives;

**Whereas** married fathers are more likely to have a close, enduring
relationship with their children than unmarried fathers; and

**Whereas** Father's Day is the third Sunday in June:

Now, therefore, be it *Resolved,* That the House of Representatives-

\(1\) Urges men to understand the level of responsibility fathering a
child requires, especially in the encouragement of the moral, academic,
and spiritual development of children;

\(2\) Encourages active involvement of fathers in the rearing and
development of their children, including the devotion of time, energy,
and resources to his children, recognizing that children need not only
material support, but even more importantly, a secure and nurturing
family environment;

\(3\) Urges mothers to encourage fathers to play an active role in
child-rearing;

\(4\) Commends the millions of fathers who serve as wonderful, caring
parents for their children;

\(5\) Calls on fathers across the Nation to use Father's Day to
reconnect and rededicate themselves to their children's lives, to spend
Father's Day with their children, and to express their love and support
for their children; and

\(6\) Urges institutions and government entities at every level to
promote public policies that encourage and support, and remove barriers
to, responsible fatherhood.