Vernon Ehlers: “In closing, Mr. Speaker, I have outlined some of the reasons that our nation should consider as we try to strengthen…”

“In closing, Mr. Speaker, I have outlined some of the reasons that our nation should consider as we try to strengthen marriages in our country. The benefits of health, the benefits of stability, the benefits for our Nation and particularly for our children and their education. I have stated that the purpose of the resolution is simply to commend communities throughout the entire Nation that have established community marriage policies. But I would like to point out that the Congress itself should focus on ways to undue the bias against marriage in certain Federal programs. This House has already passed the elimination of the marriage penalty in our income tax, and we hope that that will soon pass the other body and be signed into law by the President. The earned income tax credit should also not have a marriage penalty, which it presently has. There are other issues in poverty programs and many other programs in the Federal Government where one can detect some antimarriage bias. I think we as a Congress should address those issues. In addition State governments, with their responsibility for the marriage laws, should do what they can to encourage proper premarital counseling and especially proper counseling of individuals considering divorce.”