IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 318

Supporting responsible fatherhood, promoting marriage, and encouraging 

greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially 

on Father’s Day. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 14, 2005

Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Mr. PITTS, Mr. PENCE, Mr. MCCAUL of Texas, 

Mr. OSBORNE, Mr. RYUN of Kansas, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. 

WELDON of Florida, Mrs. CUBIN, Mr. MCHENRY, Mr. ISTOOK, Mr. 

GOODE, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. BURGESS, Mr. FRANKS of Arizona, Mr. 

BARTLETT of Maryland, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. 

HOSTETTLER, Mr. KING of Iowa, Mr. BRADY of Texas, Mr. RYAN of 

Wisconsin, Mr. WILSON of South Carolina, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, 

Mr. AKIN, Mr. GINGREY, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. WOLF, Mr. 

WAMP, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. MILLER of Florida, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mr. 

WESTMORELAND, Mr. EDWARDS, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. TURNER, and Ms. 

JACKSON-LEE of Texas) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce 

RESOLUTION

Supporting responsible fatherhood, promoting marriage, and 

encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives 

of their children, especially on Father’s Day.

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

fathers; 
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•HRES 318 IH 

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 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 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 promoting responsible fatherhood can help increase 

the chances that children will grow up with two caring 

parents; 

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 who 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 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, 
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•HRES 318 IH 

or enter into, abusive relationships, or compromise the 

health or safety of a custodial parent; and 

Whereas Father’s Day is the third Sunday in June: Now, 

therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives—

2 (1) commends the millions of fathers who serve 

3 as wonderful, caring parents for their children; 

4 (2) calls on fathers across the Nation to use 

5 Father’s Day to reconnect and rededicate themselves 

6 to their children’s lives, to spend Father’s Day with 

7 their children, and to express their love and support 

8 for their children; 

9 (3) urges men to understand the level of re10 sponsibility fathering a child requires, especially in 

11 the encouragement of the moral, academic, and spir12 itual development of children; and 

13 (4) encourages active involvement of fathers in 

14 the rearing and development of their children, in15 cluding the devotion of time, energy, and resources.

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