This brief discusses the decline of marriage in American society, the benefits of marriage, and strategies for strengthening the institution of marriage in the United States. It begins with a review of statistics that indicate a decrease in the marriage rate, an increase in the cohabitation rate, and a high unwed birthrate among women ages 20-24. The benefits of marriage to children and to adults are then discussed, as well as benefits to society. Strategies for strengthening marriage are explained and include enacting laws to implement pro-family tax reform, no-fault divorce reform, welfare reform, abstinence-until-marriage programs, and premarital education. The brief closes with a call for America to restore a culture in which monogamous, lifelong marriages are the norm and marriage between and a man and a woman is treasured as the safest and best haven for children. 48 references.