President Bush’s Healthy Marriage Initiative
President Announces Welfare Reform Agenda
THE PRESIDENT: At the heart of all these proposals is a single commitment
to return an ethic of work to an important place in all American lives.
Secondly, we will work to strengthen marriage. As we reduce welfare case
loads, we must improve the lives of children. And the most effective, direct
way to improve the lives of children is to encourage the stability of American
families. (Applause.)
Across America, no doubt about it, single mothers do heroic work. They have the toughest job in our country. Raising children by themselves is an incredibly hard job. In many cases, their lives and their children lives would be better if their fathers had lived up to their responsibilities. (Applause.)
Statistics tell us that children from two parent families are less likely to end up in poverty, drop out of school, become addicted to drugs, have a child out of wedlock, suffer abuse or become a violent criminal and end up in prison. Building and preserving families are not always possible, I recognize that. But they should always be our goal.
So my administration will give unprecedented support to strengthening marriages. (Applause.) Many good programs help couples who want to get married and stay married. (Applause.) Isn't that right? We just talked about one such program. Premarital education programs can increase happiness in marriage and reduce divorce by teaching couples how to resolve conflict, how to improve communication and, most importantly, how to treat each other with respect. (Applause.) [Paragraph. 28-31] (more information)
President Urges Senate to Pass Compassionate Welfare
Reform Bill
It is also important to understand that a more hopeful society is one in
which we encourage strong marriages and families. (Applause.) I understand
building and preserving a family is not always possible; I know that. But
it should be a national goal. We ought to aspire for what's best. And what's
best is for our families to remain intact. All you've got to hear is from
the man I met today, Patrick [Patterson, ACF Region III], talk about the
fatherhood initiative. He talked in compelling terms about what it's like
to have dads want to be a dad; and when dad is reunited with their families,
how vital and how real that person's life becomes and, more importantly,
how hopeful the life becomes for the children.
He works for the Sisters of Charity Foundation on the fatherhood initiative.
There are such initiatives throughout our society -- many in the faith community,
by the way. Initiatives that ought to be supported by the federal government.
And so, therefore, the bill that the House passed, that I proposed -- in
my budget, I have $300 million on an annual basis to support education programs
and counseling programs -- out of the faith community and out of the charitable
community and out of the government community, all aimed at encouraging
marriage; all aimed at helping couples to build and sustain healthy marriage
in our society. (Applause.) [Paragraph 33-34] (more
information)
WORKING TOWARD INDEPENDENCE Promote Child Well-Being and Healthy
Marriages