FUNDING GRANTS TO PROMOTE RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD

PRESIDENT OBAMA'S 'RESPONSIBLE FATHERHOOD' BILL, is likely to be passed soon after inauguration. Father's rights advocates should take special note of the following aspects of this bill, and be professionally prepared to apply for funding for research and programs related to 'Responsible Fatherhood'.

Just as feminsts, NOW and 'women's studies' graduates have been well funded for decades to promote programs for women and mothers, we in the fathers rights movement must be prepared to step up to the plate to promote programs for men and fathers. It would be very sad if Obama's Fatherhood plan lacked any real substance and diversity but instead failed to include Father's Rights advocates at the table, and only continued the hollow male bashing of typical feminst demgoguery such as the bloated and over funded VAWA which may be one of the greatest causes of fatherless in our society today.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The most important factor in a child's upbringing is whether the child is brought up in a loving, healthy, supportive environment.

(2) Children who grow up with two parents are, on average, more likely than their peers in single-parent homes to finish high school and be economically self-sufficient.

(3) Father-child interaction, like mother-child interaction, has been shown to promote the positive physical, social, emotional, and mental development of children.



SEC. 107. STATE ASSESSMENTS OF BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF CHILDREN.

(a) State Assessments and Reports- As a condition of the continued approval of a State plan under part D of title IV of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 651 et seq.), each State with an approved such plan, acting through the appropriate State agencies, shall assess the State policies with respect to the issues described in subsection (b) and submit a report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services on the results of such assessment not later than March 15, 2008.

(b) (5) Identification of any other barriers to healthy family formation or sustainable economic opportunity for custodial and noncustodial parents that are created or exacerbated by Federal or State laws, policies, or procedures, including an examination of the rules of Federal and State means-tested programs, the operation of the State workforce system, the availability of financial education services...

(c) Grants to States for Commissions on State Law Improvements in the Best Interest of Children and Families- The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall award grants to States to establish or support commissions to review the State assessment conducted in accordance with subsection (a) and to make recommendations on ways to improve State law in the best interest of children and families.