Federal Legislation	May 8, 2003

S. 604 -- Responsible Fatherhood Act of 2003

Action Requested:
None at this time.

Background:
Official purpose: To reauthorize and improve the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families, improve access to quality child care, and for other purposes.

Introduced March 12, 2003 by Sen. Evan Bayh (D, IN)

Cosponsors (4)

Status:

3/12/2003:	Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance
12/31/2004:	This bill is "dead". It was not passed into law before the end of the 108th Congress.

Bill Summary and Status

*Note: S. 604 amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary to award grants to eligible States and entities to conduct demonstration programs to promote responsible fatherhood. S. 604 also requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with a nonprofit fatherhood promotion organization to: (1) develop and distribute a media campaign that addresses the issue of responsible fatherhood to States, local governments, public agencies, and private entities; and (2) develop a national clearinghouse to assist States and community efforts to promote and support marriage and responsible fatherhood by disseminating information regarding media campaigns and programs instituted by States using grant funds under this Act.

HSLDA's Position:
HSLDA does not take a position on this legislation a welfare issues are generally considered outside the mission of HSLDA. We note, however, that S. 604 takes particular interest in the encouragement and promotion of "responsible fatherhood" involvement, "marriage", and that of healthy "married 2-parent families". This same issue was addressed in the 107th Congress, but was never passed into law.

Other Resources

S. 604 (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Supported by the

Home School Foundation www.homeschoolfoundation.org