Children and Families

Americans are working more hours than ever before. In 2000, the average American worker put in 1,978 hours, 36 hours more—almost a full week—than they worked in 1990. Nearly 64 million women are now in America’s workforce, including three-quarters of American mothers with children younger than 18. With wages stagnant, benefits eroding and employers demanding excessive overtime, it’s tougher than ever for working families to balance competing demands while trying to earn a livable wage.

These increased demands on working families, requires policies that give workers more flexibility, job and retirement security, and improved work conditions. That is why I support an increase in the minimum wage, expanding protections for workers’ pensions, and improving on the successes of the Family and Medical Leave Act. This is in addition to the health and child care support programs critical for workers to perform their jobs in good health knowing their children are well cared for.

House Education and Workforce Committee Democrats

• 2007-07-11: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark Supporting Elderly and Disabled Refugees
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of assisting immigrants who Congress invited to live in the United States because they were being persecuted in their home countries.

• 2007-05-02: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Supporting Reauthorization of Head Start
  I rise today in strong support of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007 (H.R. 1429).  Since 1965, Head Start has served millions of low- income families and helped children prepare for school.

• 2007-04-24: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Expressing Support for Increased Public Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of increasing public awareness of child abuse and neglect.  Nearly 900,000 children were found to be victims of abuse and neglect in 2005.

• 2007-04-23: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Expressing Support for a National Foster Parent’s Day
  Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of establishing a National Foster Parents Day.  Individuals and families that open their homes and their hearts to vulnerable children are truly deserving of our recognition.

• 2007-03-14: Letter to House Appropriators
  Letter to House Appropriators supporting funding for Runaway and Homeless Youth Programs
  
  
• 2007-02-15: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Introducing the Foster Children Self Support Act
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the “Foster Children Self Support Act.”  This bill will codify into federal law what should be common sense: abused and neglected children should not be used as a funding stream for states that should be acting in the best interests of these extremely vulnerable children.
  
  
• 2007-01-18: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Introducing the "Keeping Families Together Act"
  Tens of Thousands of mentally ill children are torn from their families each year because they can only receive needed care through the child welfare system.  The Keeping Families Together Act is a first step toward ending the barbaric practice of custody relinquishment and allowing children to stay with their families while receiving quality mental health care.
  
• 2006-12-06: Statement of Representative Pete Stark in Opposition to the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act
  Where is the sense of urgency for children once they are actually born?  What has this Congress done to address increasing rates of child poverty and hunger, decreasing access to health care, and the abysmal state of education and child care in this country?
  
  
• 2006-07-26: Statement Of Congressman Pete Stark In Support Of
  The Child And Family Services Improvement Act
  I rise today in support of the House amendments to the Child and Family Services Improvement Act, which include re-authorization of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program.
  
  
• 3/16/06 — A letter to the Energy and Water Subcommittee (pdf):
  A letter calling for increased federal funding to strengthen levees in
  California.
  
  
• 3/16/06 — A letter to the Transportation Appropriations Subcommittee (pdf):
  A letter calling for funding for seismic safety upgrades to BART.
  
  
• 1/31/06: Letter to President Bush (pdf):
  Letter to President Bush concerning warrantless surveillance of American citizens on American soil.
  
  
• 1/24/06 — Letter to Secretary of the Treasury Snow (pdf):
  Letter to Secretary of the Treasury Snow requesting he end the IRS practice of unnecessarily freezing refunds of low-income taxpayers.
  
  
• 9/14/05 -- Stark Statement On H.R. 3132
  I rise in opposition to H.R. 3132, the Children’s Safety Act of 2005.  Once again, this Congress is attempting to address a very serious and complicated problem with a law that substitutes the talking points of “tough on crime” politicians for the wisdom of judges, prosecutors, treatment professionals and child advocates.
  
  
• 4/28/05: Stark Comments on Budget Bill
  House budget requires deep cuts in Medicaid, Head Start, environmental initiatives, childcare and education, while simultaneously maintaining tax cuts for the rich.
  
  
• 3/17/05 -- The Budget -- On H. Con. Res. 95, the Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2006
  "I rise in strong opposition to the Republican budget.  It’s dishonest. It’s immoral.  It’s wrong for America’s future...As our weak economy is forcing more people to rely on Medicaid’s health safety net, Republicans are cutting the program by $20 billion. Income support programs that keep low-income families afloat economically are being axed.  Some 48 education programs, vital environmental protections, community development grants and veteran’s health care programs are being gutted."
  
  
• 3/2/05 -- Floor Statement -- Opposing H.R. 127, the Job Training Improvement Act
  "Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 27, the so-called Job Training Improvement Act of 2005.Today’s bill has nothing to do with improving job training for our workforce – far from it. Instead, this bill actually weakens worker protections, opens the door to hiring discrimination, and dismantles the employment service program that helps unemployed workers find jobs."
  
  
• 2/17/05 -- Floor Statement -- On S. 5, the Class Action Fairness Act of 2005
  "Mr. Speaker, I rise to oppose this misguided legislation to limit the ability of average Americans to seek redress for injury and harm caused by corporate malfeasance."
  
  
• 2/16/05 -- Floor Statement -- On H.R. 310, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005
  "Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 310, the so-called Broadcast Decency Bill. I'm as concerned as any parent about the content on television. I don't want my young children or grandchildren exposed to programming that is unsuitable for them. Yet, nowhere in this bill is there a definition of indecent material. All this bill does is increase fines over tenfold what the Bush Administration deems to be indecent. "
  
  
• 2/15/05: -- Press Release -- Children and Families
  Stark, House Colleagues Take Action to End the Nightmare of Child Custody Relinquishment
  
  
• 2/15/05 -- Floor Statement -- Introducing the Keeping Families Together Act
  "Mr. Speaker, I rise to join Congressman Ramstad and Kennedy in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral “Keeping Families Together Act.” This bill would help parents obtain necessary mental health treatment for their severely emotionally disturbed children without being forced to relinquish them into state custody to get that care. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Mark Pryor (D-AK) are introducing the companion legislation in the Senate."
  

More on Children and Families: 108th Congress