89R5214 KRT-F     By: Schatzline H.C.R. No. 16       CONCURRENT RESOLUTION          WHEREAS, Fathers play an important role in nurturing and   supporting children, enabling them to learn, develop, and reach   their full potential; and          WHEREAS, Fatherlessness and the lack of important role models   in the lives of children today are factors of the violence and   unrest we are witnessing in our state and across our nation; and          WHEREAS, Despite some successful legislation and the   creation of fatherhood initiatives, fatherless homes are still   prevalent; and          WHEREAS, Research shows children do best when raised by two   parents in a committed, long-term marriage; and          WHEREAS, According to the United States Census Bureau,   18,400,000 children in the United States live without a father in   the home, and 2.5 million children in Texas live in single-parent   homes; and          WHEREAS, Data supports the hypothesis that having strong male   role models in the home helps prevent suicide, behavioral   disorders, juvenile detention, substance abuse, aggression,   violence, and teen pregnancy; and          WHEREAS, Fathers play an important role in teaching important   life skills, providing guidance through challenges, and helping   children persevere through adversity; and          WHEREAS, By promoting fatherhood with amended policies that   remove disincentives to two-parent households, and by following   evidence-based practices, the number of fatherless homes will   decrease across all communities; now, therefore, be it          RESOLVED, That the 89th Legislature of the State of Texas   hereby                (1)  affirms the importance of fatherhood in caring   for, nurturing, and supporting children throughout their lives;                (2)  supports the efforts of public officials,   community leaders, faith leaders, and all citizens to promote and   encourage engaged fatherhood;                (3)  recognizes the impact that fatherlessness has had   on American children in creating obstacles for children to learn,   grow, develop, and live fulfilling and rewarding lives;                (4)  recognizes misaligned incentives in the structure   of state welfare programs and the barriers they create in allowing   fathers to return home to their spouse and children;                (5)  supports programs and initiatives to provide   incarcerated individuals with the tools and skills to seek   meaningful employment opportunities upon serving their time in   detention;                (6)  reaffirms support for efforts to encourage   educational opportunities and economic development in minority   communities, such as the First Step Act and Opportunity Zones;                (7)  commits to researching and understanding the root   causes of fatherlessness and crafting public policy that supports   and encourages fully engaged fatherhood;                (8)  supports addressing the difficulties of child   custody as it relates to alimony and child support;                (9)  supports exploring programs that help promote male   role models in children's lives, including through foster parenting   and mentoring programs, and in so doing reduce overall government   dependency and social breakdown; and                (10)  recognizes the threat of government growth to   prosperity, responsibility, and liberty, and thus embraces the   important role that the private sector, including faith-based   organizations, can often play in lieu of direct government   involvement.