House Celebrates Fathers

On June 9, the House approved, 373-0, a resolution (H. Res. 1243) recognizing the immeasurable contributions of fathers to the healthy development of children, supporting responsible fatherhood, and encouraging greater involvement of fathers in the lives of their children, especially on Father’s Day.

Sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK), the resolution contains a number of findings, including:

• children with involved fathers are more likely to do well in school, have a better sense of well-being, and have fewer behavioral problems;
• supportive fathers promote the positive physical, social, emotional, and mental development of children;
• promoting responsible fatherhood can help increase the chances that children will grow up with two caring parents;
• responsible fatherhood can help reduce child poverty; and
• Father’s Day is the third Sunday in June.

The resolution “commends the millions of fathers who serve as wonderful, caring parents for their children; [and] calls on fathers across the United States 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.” The resolution also “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; and encourages active involvement of fathers in the rearing and development of their children, including the devotion of time, energy, and resources.”