A HOUSE RESOLUTION Honoring fathers during the observance of father's day.
Whereas, the origin of Father's Day can be traced to the efforts of Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, to recognize her father, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who raised Sonora and her five siblings as a single father after the death of his wife; and
Whereas, Congress passed a joint resolution recognizing Father's Day in 1956, and President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation establishing a permanent holiday in 1972; and
Whereas, as we celebrate Father's Day in 2014, it is important to look at some of the current issues facing fathers and fatherhood; and
Whereas, the number of children in the United States growing up without a relationship with their father is a staggering 24 million, or one out of every three children; and
Whereas, supportive fathers promote the positive physical, social, emotional, moral, and mental development of children; and
Whereas, the lack of paternal involvement in a child's life has a direct correlation to child poverty, health, incarceration, crime, teen pregnancy, substance abuse, lower levels of education, and obesity; and
Whereas, it is the mission of organizations like Every Father Counts to mobilize biological fathers to advocate for and engage their children and communities in ways that raise awareness of and nurture the importance of a positive father‑child bond; and
Whereas, Every Father Counts, through advocacy, seeks to empower all fathers to address laws that influence decisions on child custody policies and public programs that systematically hinder the ability of fathers to have a positive relationship with their children; and
Whereas, it is fitting to raise awareness about the importance of fathers in children's lives and the subsequent impact on the overall wellbeing of our community; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
SECTION 1.  The House of Representatives honors the memory of those fathers who have had a positive impact on the lives of their children.
SECTION 2.  While observing Father's Day on June 15, 2014, the House of Representatives supports the efforts of organizations like Every Father Counts, which encourages fathers to be involved in the lives of their children.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon adoption.