Andre Carson: “Sunday, June 15 is Father's Day in America. Children and families will give tribute to men who are wonderful, caring…”

“Sunday, June 15 is Father's Day in America. Children and families will give tribute to men who are wonderful, caring parents. According to the 2000 census, there were 27 million fathers who had children under the age of 18 in their households in the year 2000. According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, an estimated 25 million children live absent from their biological fathers, up from under 10 million in 1960. Of the children under 18 in the United States, 66 percent lived with both parents and 5 percent lived with only their father in 2000. All fathers can be important contributors to the well-being of their children. Kristin Clark Taylor, author of ``Black Fathers, A Call for Healing,'' in her introduction writes: ``We are in need of our fathers. Our stomachs are growling, hungry for their presence. Our throats are parched, thirsty for the moment, the minute, the second that they walk back into our lives and bring smiles.'' I encourage, Mr. Speaker, the fathers across this land to do all that they can do to be with their children, not just for a Sunday holiday but to be a permanent part of their life. To quote Marian Wright Edelman, director of the Children's Defense Fund, ``We do not need an $82 billion bill to correct a $3.5 billion injustice.'' Fathers are struggling to be the best dad for the most part. I salute Father's Day 2003 and fatherhood.”