Opening Statement of the Hon. Wally Herger, M.C., California,
and Chairman, Subcommittee on Human Resources

Hearing on Welfare and Marriage Issues

May 22, 2001

Welcome to today's hearing on welfare and marriage. It's hardly news that the institution of marriage today is under assault on several fronts. It's also not news that children often suffer when marriages break up or never form. Here's what the National Commission on Children, which included then-Governor Bill Clinton and Children's Defense Fund President Marian Wright Edelman, reported back in 1991:

"When parents divorce or fail to marry, children are often the victims. Children who live with only one parent, usually their mothers, are six times more likely to be poor than children who live with both parents. They also suffer more emotional, behavioral, and intellectual problems. They are at greater risk of dropping out of school, alcohol and drug use, adolescent pregnancy and childbearing, juvenile delinquency, mental illness, and suicide."

This is not to disrespect the millions of single moms and dads working hard to raise a family alone. They are to be commended for their daily struggles, which are often heroic. But as legislators charged with overseeing government programs to help poor families with children, this Subcommittee cannot turn a blind eye to the negative effects family breakdown can have on children. So what are we to do?

For starters, we must recognize the challenges we face. At least three major social trends are at work here. First, millions of marriages are being delayed or never occur as more and more young people "cohabit". Second, out-of-wedlock childbearing remains at record levels, with one in three children born outside marriage. And third, divorce remains at near-record levels.

Yet even within these statistics are faint glimmers of hope. In a recent survey, 82 percent of unwed mothers reported they were romantically involved with their children's fathers at the time of the child's birth. Almost half were living together. And the majority of these unmarried mothers and fathers believe they have a good chance of marrying the other parent.

So a key question is what happens to these families that keeps them from forming permanent relationships? And what can or should we do to help young couples and new parents form more permanent relationships including, when appropriate, marriage?

The 1996 welfare reform law attempted to answer the latter question by allowing States to use cash welfare funds to promote marriage and family formation. The logic was clear. If States discourage out-of-wedlock childbearing and encourage marriage, welfare dependence will shrink and children will be better off. However, only a few States have taken up this challenge. We are fortunate to have witnesses today from two States operating programs in this area, Arizona and Oklahoma. We look forward to their testimony. We also will hear from researchers and experts about other ways to promote marriage, with certain cautions. Such cautions are not lost on us. We should be clear that no one is talking about forcing anyone to marry.

Americans rightly are concerned about government involvement when it comes to sensitive issues like childbearing and family formation. I am concerned about that too. But just as we agree on removing marriage penalties in the tax code, we should also think about removing marriage penalties in public benefit programs.

With the new welfare law, we started to take steps in that direction. Today we will hear about what is working, and consider what more can and should be done. I look forward to all of the witnesses' testimony.

Mr. Cardin?