Cut Teen Pregnancies - Win a Grant >Page 1, 2, 3
How does reducing out-of-wedlock births help cut welfare spending?
Early in 1996, when the Clinton Administration began pushing for approval of the welfare reform law, a key element of that law was a nationwide reduction in the rate of teen pregnancies.
On Jan. 29, 1996, President Clinton delivered an address on teen pregnancy in which he told a Washington, D.C. audience, "Teen parents often don't have the education they need, don't have the self-awareness they need, don't have the self-confidence they need to make the most of their own lives in the work force or to succeed themselves as parents."
In the same speech, the President further stated, "We know, too, that almost all the poor children in this country are living with one parent; that there are very, very few poor children, without regard to race, region or income, living in two-parent married households. We know that there are an awful lot of good, single parents out there doing their best, but we also know it would be better if no teenager ever had a child out of wedlock; that it is not the right thing to do, and it is not a good thing for the children's future and for the future of our country."
| Online Discussion: Welfare Reform or Just More Spending? |
When President Clinton's opinions and words were translated into the language of the "The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996," they came out like this:
The Congress makes the following findings:
Marriage is the foundation of a successful society.
Marriage is an essential institution of a successful society which promotes the interests of children.
Promotion of responsible fatherhood and motherhood is integral to successful child rearing and the well-being of children.
In 1992, only 54 percent of single-parent families with children had a child support order established and, of that 54 percent, only about one-half received the full amount due. Of the cases enforced through the public child support enforcement system, only 18 percent of the caseload has a collection.
The number of individuals receiving aid to families with dependent children (in this section referred to as `AFDC') has more than tripled since 1965. More than two-thirds of these recipients are children. Eighty-nine percent of children receiving AFDC benefits now live in homes in which no father is present.
The Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that 12,000,000 children will receive AFDC benefits within 10 years.
The increase in the number of children receiving public assistance is closely related to the increase in births to unmarried women. Between 1970 and 1991, the percentage of live births to unmarried women increased nearly threefold, from 10.7 percent to 29.5 percent.
After quoting data showing nationwide increases in out-of-wedlock births and teen pregnancies, the Findings of Congress section goes on to enumerate the dangers and difficulties encountered by children born to fatherless families and concludes
Therefore, in light of this demonstration of the crisis in our Nation, it is the sense of the Congress that prevention of out-of-wedlock pregnancy and reduction in out-of-wedlock birth are very important
According to officials of the Clinton Administration, The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 has been very successful in reducing out-of-wedlock births since 1996.
Next page What have the results been since 1996? >Page 1, 2, 3
Express Your
Opinions
Just click on a topic to read or take part in the discussion.
Election
2000 Online Discussion Group
This is the place to discuss the candidates and issues of the 2000 Election.
It is politics, so almost anything goes,
Latest
Additions
All new features and stories added to US Government Info/Resources.
Job Openings - Federal Government
Links to vacancy announcements at dozens of agencies and military branches.
Job Openings -
State Governments
Links to vacancy announcements from all states and D.C.
Government Money and Aid - No Grant Needed
Where to find help with: Small Business Needs,
Healthcare, Work or Career, Home Improvements, Hunger and Child Care or Family
Needs. In most cases, you do not need a grant to get assistance from a
government program.
In Congress
Today
The daily schedules of House and Senate, major legislation, votes and more.
Huge Index of
Government Web Sites
One of the largest lists of agencies, bureaus and offices on the Web.
E-Government!
Online Government Services
From adopting wild horses to buying T-bills and bonds, the US Government is
working to make more an more of its services available to Internet users. Try
out E-Government now.
Supreme
Court Report
Find out about recent decisions and major cases now being considered by the
Supreme Court. Includes links to texts of Court decisions and analysis by many
of your About Guides and other major media sources.
How to...
...do lots of things involving the U.S. Government.
Latest
News and Features
The latest news and features on US Government Info/Resources.
Politics?
You want Politics?
Guide John Aravosis is and insider who'll deliver all the politics you can
handle.
Military
Questions?
Guide Rod Powers probably has the answers.
Immigration
Headlines
Keep up with the latest news about U.S. immigration laws and events with Guides
Jennifer and Peter Wipf.
