Federal Policy

GAO Report on marriage and the federal government. In 1997, at the request of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman, the General Accounting Office (GAO) issued a report identifying 1,049 statutory provisions which provided benefits, rights and privileges contingent on marital status, or where marital status was otherwise a factor. (This report was updated in Dec 2003 to 1,138 provisions). The cover letter notes that the factors could have a positive or negative effect (  i.e. could award  or deny benefits etc depending on marital status). Thirteen categories of laws were identified including Social Security, housing, and public assistance programs, Veterans’ military and civilian programs, taxation, immigration etc.

Welfare Reform Law of 1996. The  Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity  Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) enacted in 1996 renamed the federal welfare program to the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. It also changed it from an open ended entitlement  into a block grant to states and required  welfare recipients to work ( with some exceptions). It was the first federal law to explicitly promote marriage and encourage the formation of two-parent families. Three of the four purposes of the law referred to marriage and family formation (see Beyond Marriage Licenses pp5-6)

Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) 1996. This (one page) law clarified the definition of  marriage in all federal statutory provisions as follows: “In determining the meaning of any Act of Congress, or of any ruling, regulation, or interpretation of the various administrative bureaus and agencies of the United States, the word `marriage’ means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife, and the word `spouse’ refers only to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or a wife.”

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.The Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Act was included in the omnibus Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, which reauthorized the TANF program. This act set up a new  competitive grants program, administered by the Office of Family Assistance (OFA), allocating $150 million each year for five years to support community and statewide programs designed to help couples form and sustain healthy marriages and encourage and promote responsible fatherhood( $100 million for healthy marriage and up to $50 million for responsible fatherhood).

In 2010 as a part of the Claims Resolution Act, this grants program was extended, but the money was reallocated  to be shared equally between healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood. In October 2011  OFA awarded a total of $119 in grants(see full story here). This guide provides a broad overview of the different types of research and program activities that have been funded by ACF during this period.

Administration for Children and Families Healthy Marriage Intitiative, 2002-2009: An Introductory Guide. In 2002 President Bush announced a healthy marriage initiative and began to fund programs using existing discretionary grants programs ( Childrens Bureau, Refugee and Migrant programs etc). The passage of the DRA allowed funding through the TANF program of healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood programs.

Since 2002 the Administration for Children and Families has invested over $300 million on research, evaluation and demonstration programs designed to strengthen and promote marriage.

Welfare, Child Support and Tax Policy: Effects on Family Formation. Collection by Topic

Policy Briefing and Conferences

Resources to Download

Healthy Marriage, Strong Families & Child-Wellbeing. Capitol Hill Seminar Series

The NHMRC created three healthy marriage-focused seminars. Convened on Capitol Hill, these briefings provided policymakers with sound, up-to-date information about the Healthy Marriage Initiative and illustrated the connections between healthy marriage and other areas of social policy and programs.

Wingspread- June 9-11, 2008

Marriage, Employment and Economic Security: Research, Program and Policy Implications

The NHMRC convened national leaders and experts across disciplines to review and brainstorm more collaborative, integrated approaches to working with low-income families around employment/workforce development, asset development/financial education and marriage and relationship education. This invitational meeting was  held at the Wingspread Conference Center in Racine, WI,  June 9-11 2008. The meeting led to the creation of the Collection by Topic on Financial Stress and Couple Relationships.

Wingspread- October 20-22, 2008

Making Connections: Effects of Marriage and Couple Relationships on the Health of Infants, Adolescents and Older Adults

This NHMRC Wingspread conference brought together key researchers with leading clinicians and marriage professionals to discuss research that explores the effect of marital and relationship quality on health outcomes. (Marital quality matters: Unhappy and stressful marriages are linked to poor health outcomes). We reviewed key lessons from research, and then considered the implications for the training and practice of health care and marriage professionals.This invitational conference of health and other experts was held at the Wingspread Conference Center, Racine WI, October 20-22, 200. It resulted in a 60 page report,  an Issue Brief and Collection by Topic which provide reviews and syntheses of research and  discuss implications for policy and practice and recommendations for health care reform. Review these health resources. A 60 page Report is Coming Soon!