Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that fatherhood is essential to the development of all children, and that the increased involvement of fathers in the home will lead to economic prosperity, educational excellence, and improved social mobility for children across all racial and ethnic groups.

Bill Number: H.Res. 487
Origin Chamber: House
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Families
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-06-06: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Last Updated: 2025-07-21T19:44:15Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

This House Resolution (H. Res. 487) expresses the non-binding opinion of the House of Representatives on the importance of fatherhood. It emphasizes that active father involvement in the home is crucial for children's overall development and highlights benefits like economic prosperity, better education, and improved social mobility for children from all racial and ethnic backgrounds. The resolution aims to raise awareness about fatherlessness as a societal issue and encourage supportive policies.

Key Provisions Outlined

The resolution includes background "Whereas" clauses citing research and statistics on fatherhood's benefits and the harms of fatherless homes (e.g., 18.4 million U.S. children live without a father, linked to issues like violence, substance abuse, and teen pregnancy). It then resolves that the House:

Affirms fatherhood's role in nurturing and supporting children.
Supports public officials, community leaders, faith leaders, and citizens in promoting engaged fatherhood.
Recognizes fatherlessness's negative effects on children, including in Black communities, and links it to obstacles in learning and growth.
Acknowledges the criminal justice system's role (e.g., incarceration) in creating single-parent homes.
Notes misaligned incentives in federal welfare programs that hinder fathers returning to families.
Supports programs for incarcerated people to gain employment skills post-release.
Reaffirms backing for initiatives like historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the First Step Act (a 2018 law aimed at reducing recidivism), and Opportunity Zones (tax incentives for investment in low-income areas).
Commits to researching fatherlessness causes and developing policies to promote engaged fatherhood.
Calls for addressing child custody challenges related to alimony (spousal support payments) and child support.
Suggests exploring tax incentives for fathers as foster parents or mentors.
Proposes a national campaign to promote fatherhood.

Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced

None. As a "sense of the House" resolution, it does not amend, repeal, or enact any laws. It serves as a statement of congressional intent and could guide future legislation but has no legal force.

Potential Impacts

On Government Agencies: May encourage agencies like the Departments of Education, Justice, and Health and Human Services to prioritize fatherhood programs in budgets or initiatives, potentially leading to more funding for reentry programs or welfare reforms. No direct mandates.
On Citizens: Could raise public awareness about family structures, benefiting families by promoting two-parent households and reducing fatherlessness-related issues like poverty or crime. It highlights support for minority communities and incarcerated parents, potentially improving access to education and jobs.
On International Relations: Minimal to none, as the focus is domestic social policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Children and Families: Especially those in fatherless homes, including across racial groups (e.g., Black communities highlighted for disproportionate impacts).
Fathers: Incarcerated or absent fathers, who may gain from reentry programs, custody reforms, and incentives like tax breaks for fostering or mentoring.
Community and Faith Leaders: Encouraged to promote fatherhood initiatives.
Government and Policymakers: House members, committees (Education and Workforce, Judiciary, Ways and Means), and federal agencies involved in welfare, justice, and education.
Minority and Underserved Groups: Beneficiaries of tied initiatives like HBCUs and Opportunity Zones.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: No enforceable changes; it avoids mandating actions, focusing on recommendations to prevent legal challenges.
Constitutional: Aligns with free speech and equal protection principles by promoting family values without discriminating, though it emphasizes traditional marriage, which could spark debates on family diversity.
Political: Reinforces conservative priorities like strong families and welfare reform, potentially influencing partisan debates on social issues. It builds bipartisan support (introduced by Reps. Owens and Donalds) by addressing root causes of inequality, but may face criticism for overlooking broader factors like economic pressures or gender roles. Could serve as a foundation for future bills on family policy.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4]

Cosponsors (2)

Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19], Rep. Harris, Mark [R-NC-8]

Recent Actions

2025-06-06: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-06-06: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-06-06: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
2025-06-06: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H2515)
2025-06-06: Submitted in House
2025-06-06: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that fatherhood is essential to the development of all children, and that the increased involvement of fathers in the home will lead to economic prosperity, educational excellence, and improved social mobility for children across all racial and ethnic groups. — issued 2025-06-06 — PDF (4 pages)