This testimony given before the Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy of the U.S. Senate, discusses the following components of a healthy marriage: safety in interaction that allows couple to talk openly and well about key issues, with the strongest expressions of such safety including emotional safety and support; personal safety that includes freedom from fear of physical or emotional harm and intimidation; and safety in commitment, including the security of mutual support, teamwork, and a clear future together. A postscript adds the additional construct of environmental or contextual safety. 15 references.