The Responsible Fatherhood Act spotlights the importance of families and marriage for child development and aims to strengthen fragile families and promote responsible fatherhood through public awareness, community involvement and removal of federal barriers to active fatherhood and married, two-parent families. The irony in our nation s unprecedented economic prosperity is that many Americans still feel like our country is on the wrong track, that there is a deterioration of our values that is fraying the social fabric, said Bayh.
Women are heroic in their efforts to raise our nation s children.
But it is unfair to ask them to shoulder the entire burden, said Bayh. Many men have abandoned their families, they are not carrying their responsibility and through their actions, teaching their children about moral and values. The Responsible Fatherhood Act has two sections. A National Bureau of Families isn t the solution, said Bayh. But the federal government can partner with the courageous work already being done in our communities and bring badly needed resources to build on the efforts of state and local governments, community groups and faith-based organizations.