The percentage of children living in these families rose from 51 percent in 1991 to 56 percent in 1996. This report, based on a survey of 37,000 households, updates findings from a 1991 report on the living arrangements of children. The report didn't find that more couples are staying together, but instead concluded that as the total number of children increased, more of them were being born into traditional families. The Census Bureau said this rise in traditional families happened at the same time as other families became less traditional, with more children being raised by stepparents, adoptive parents and extended family. The proportion of children living in any type of two-parent family fell from 73 percent in 1991 to 71 percent in 1996.
Additional information is available in our issue guide on Family .
President Bush announced that the first comprehensive federal rules to protect the privacy of medical records would take effect on Saturday, but that they could later be revised. The rules, originally issued by former President Clinton, require doctors, hospitals and health care providers to obtain written consent from patients before disclosing or using medical information. Under the new rules, patients have a right to read and copy all their records, including written and oral communications and computer files, and propose corrections. Critics in the health care industry have said the rules could harm the free flow of information needed to give patients adequate care. Additional information is available in our issue guide on Health Care and Internet Speech and Privacy .