May. 23, 2022
HARRISBURG – Legislation that would establish the Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Greater Father Involvement has earned the approval of the state House of Representatives.
House Bill 1731 was authored by Rep. Lori Mizgorski (R-Allegheny).
“I created this legislation because we all have fathers, and whether our father has been a part of our life or absent from our life, we have been impacted by that relationship,” said Mizgorski. “While families come in many shapes and sizes, the importance of fathers in the lives of their children cannot be underestimated. Children benefit when both parents are fully engaged in their lives. Children who have meaningful and healthy parent-child relationships with both parents tend to exhibit healthy behaviors, excel in school and achieve emotional well-being.”
House Bill 1731, which creates a Committee on Greater Fatherhood Involvement, is meant to both break down and build up the role of a father. The committee would be tasked with thoroughly examining what the Commonwealth is doing right and what it is doing wrong concerning father family involvement. It will make recommendations for changes to policies and laws that impede father-child relationships, and it will recommend programs and support systems to help men realize their full potential as fathers.
“Father family involvement is not only beneficial to children, but it also benefits the entire family, including the mother who might otherwise carry a greater burden of raising children,” Mizgorski continued. “In some ways our society fails to support or value the role of fathers as much as it should. Even seemingly small barriers can have significant negative effects. This can be amplified in the case of fathers who never had a role model of what fatherhood should or could look like, or do not know themselves how empowering a relationship with one’s father can be. An investment in fathers is an investment in families, and I can think of no greater investment in our future.”
The bill now awaits consideration by the Senate.
Representative Lori Mizgorski
30th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Michelle Swab
717.260.6325
mswab@pahousegop.com