Senators Join Heritage Event to Promote "Healthy Marriages"

Senators Join Heritage Event to Promote "Healthy Marriages"

WASHINGTON, FEB. 25, 2004—With welfare reauthorization two years overdue, the Senate represents the last hurdle for President Bush’s plan to promote “Healthy Marriages.” The Heritage Foundation today announced it would hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 3, that will draw together a wide array of supporters, including Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Penn., Sen. Jim Talent, R-Mo., and Wade Horn, assistant secretary for children and families at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Other participants include Heritage’s Robert Rector, a chief architect of the 1996 welfare reform law, as well as Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, Sandy Rios, president of Concerned Women for America, Barrett Duke, Director of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, Bob Woodson, president of the National Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, and Nathan Diament of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations.

President Bush announced his “Healthy Marriage” Initiative in 2001 and reiterated his support in last month’s State of the Union address. He wants to spend $300 millions annually to promote healthy marriage and reduce the likelihood of divorce through training and counseling.

“You’d think such a common-sense proposal would be utterly uncontroversial,” said Rector. “By fostering better life decisions and stronger relationship skills, marriage programs can increase child well-being and adult happiness and reduce child poverty and welfare dependence. Yet opponents make it sound as if the government would be forcing people into unhappy unions. It’s nonsense.”

The press conference will be held in Heritage’s Van Andel Center. More information about “Healthy Marriages” can be found at heritage.org/Research/Welfare/BG1677.cfm.

Heritage Foundation Leadership for America

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