Children and families : our nation's priority : hearing before the Subcommittee on Children, Family, Drugs and Alcoholism of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, United States Senate, One Hundred Second Congress, first session ... January 16, 1991

100 Pages·1991·6.5 MB·English

by  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Subcommittee on Children, Family, Drugs and Alcoholism

S. Hrg. 102-48
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: OUR NATION'S PRIORITY
HEARING
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON
CHTLDEEN, FAMILY, DRUGS AND ALCOHOLISM
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON
LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SECOND CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON
EXAMINING THE STATE OF THE AMERICAN FAMILY, FOCUSING ON
CHILDREN'S HEALTH, CHILD WELFARE REFORM, EARLY CHILDHOOD
DEVELOPMENT, AND STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO
AID WORKING PARENTS
JANUARY 16, 1991
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COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND HUMAN RESOURCES
EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts, Chairman
CLAIBORNE PELL, Rhode Island ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah
HOWARD M. METZENBAUM, Ohio NANCY LANDON KASSEBAUM, Kansas
CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, Connecticut JAMES M. JEFFORDS, Vermont
PAUL SIMON, Illinois DAN COATS, Indiana
TOM HARKIN, Iowa STROM THURMOND, South Carolina
BROCK ADAMS, Washington DAVE DURENBERGER, Minnesota
BARBARA A. MIKULSKI, Maryland THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi
JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico
PAUL D. WELLSTONE, Minnesota
Nick Littlefield, StaffDirector and ChiefCounsel
Kristine A. Iverson, Minority StaffDirector
Subcommittee on Children, Family, Drugs and Alcoholism
CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, Connecticut, Chairman
CLAIBORNE PELL, Rhode Island DAN COATS, Indiana
TOM HARKIN, Iowa ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah
BROCK ADAMS, Washington NANCY LANDON KASSEBAUM, Kansas
BARBARA A. MIKULSKI, Maryland JAMES M. JEFFORDS, Vermont
JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico STROM THURMOND, South Carolina
EDWARD M. KENNEDY, Massachusetts DAVE DURENBERGER, Minnesota
PAUL M. WELLSTONE, Minnesota
Richard J. Tarplin, StaffDirector
Stephanie Johnson Monroe, Counsel
(II)
CONTENTS
STATEMENTS
Wednesday, January 16, 1991
Page
Dodd, Hon. ChristopherJ., aU.S. Senator from the State ofConnecticut 3
Harper, Valerie, board member, RESULTS, and co-founder, LIFE, Los Ange-
les, CA 7
Prepared statement 10
Harrington, Paul E., associate director, Center for Labor Market Studies,
Northeastern University, Boston, MA; Sara S. McLanahan, professor of
sociology and public affairs, Princeton, University, Princeton, NJ; Nicholas
Zill, executive director, Child Trends, Washington, DC; Sherry C. Deane,
deputy executive director, National Black Child Development Institute,
Washington, DC; and Judith Wallerstein, executive director, Center for the
Family in Transition, Corte Madera, CA 18
Prepared statements of:
Mr. Harrington 22
Ms. McLanahan 55
;
Mr. Zill 60
Ms. Deane 69
Ms. Wallerstein 75
Lones, Regina and Jim, with Allison and Tyler, Meriden, CT; and Kathleen
Scofield and son, Ernie, accompanied byTheresaThomas, Baltimore, MD 88
(in)

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES: OUR NATION'S
PRIORITY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1991
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee on Children, Family, Drugs and
Alcoholism, of the Committee on Labor and Human
Resources,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:08 a.m., in room
SD-430, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Senator Christopher J.
Dodd (chairman ofthe subcommittee) presiding.
Present: Senators Dodd, Pell, and Hatch.
Opening Statement of Senator Dodd
Senator Dodd. The subcommittee will come to order.
I'd like to welcome all of you here this morning for the first of a
two-part series of hearings on children and families. Our first hear-
ing today will focus on families in the 1990's; tomorrow's hearing
will discuss policies to strengthen families. This follows, of course,
yesterday's hearing by the Full Committee on Labor and Human
Resources, conducted by Senator Kennedy, looking at the broad
range ofissues affecting children and families in the 1990's.
At any rate, today we begin work for the 102nd Congress with a
set of hearings on the status of the American family in the 1990's
and Federal policies to strengthen it.
The crisis in the Persian Gulf is rightfully foremost in our
thoughts today, but much as we must marshall all efforts toward a
peaceful and just resolution there, we cannot in the meantime turn
away from the daunting challenges that we face right here at
home.
Despite the surface prosperity, the 1980's were a tough decade
for American families. Caught in an economic vise of declining real
income and rising costs for basic necessities, families sent more
members into the work force, took on more debt, and went without
health insurance or home ownership. Poverty rates increased, espe-
cially among one-fifth of the children who today live below the pov-
erty line.
Middle-income families worked longer and sacrificed more just to
stay even. Since average wages dropped 9 percent over the last
decade, families kept up only by sending mothers with children
into the work force. On average, each parent in a two-earner
family works 3 weeks more every year than he or she used to. A
(1)
2
down payment on a house now costs 50 percent of average annual
income, up from 33 percent in 1978.
Similarly, a year at a private college costs $14,000, up from
$8,000 in 1967. The American dream of home ownership and a col-
lege education for your children slips further and further away.
Profound changes in family structure have occurred as well.
Almost three-quarters of children live in two-parent families. The
most common family arrangement is for both parents to be in the
labor force. Forty-two percent of children live in this arrangement,
while 29 percent live in the traditional "Ozzie and Harriet" family.
Over the decade, children living with one parent has increased
from 20 percent to 24 percent, in large part because of the decline
of long-term marriage. Divorce rates have stabilized since the
1970's, but at very high levels. Nearly one million children see
their parents divorced every year.
Pressures on families are tak—ing a very severe toll. We see many
signs that families are in crisis child abuse, spousal violence, alco-
hol and substance abuse, entry into foster care, and teen suicide
are all on the rise. More subtle, but equally alarming, are studies
that show greater difficulties in school and other facets oflife expe-
rienced by children from disrupted families.
Despite these challenges, I believe that this decade and the next
c.entury hold greater promise for the American family than ever
before. Our Nation possesses great economic resources, if only
these resources can be directed toward the well-being of our Na-
tion's children and their families.
We know what works. We have proven time and time again that
early investment in health and education of children pays off tre-
mendously over the long run. In communities across this country,
programs that work have emerged. The bonds and caring tradition-
ally provided by the immediate family are being supplemented, not
replaced, but supplemented and strengthened by extended families
and neighborhood-based services. Communities have found new
ways to protect their most fragile families.
Similarly at the national level, the goal of supporting America's
families cuts across partisan lines. In the—last Congress we found
broad support for policies to help children a landmark new Feder-
al program for child care; expansion of Head Start; the expansion
of Medicaid for poor children. In this Congress, we can build on
that foundation and develop other innovative policies to help fami-
lies help themselves.
Government policy, and society in general, must put children
and families first. —
First, we must do more to keep the family together through
family preservation programs and through changes in divorce law
which emphasize children's needs.
Second, we must provide better income support for at-risk fami-
—
lies by changes in tax policies for families with children and a
child support system that assures benefits high enough to avoid
poverty.
Third, we must provide greater assistance for balancing work
—
and family through a national family leave policy and workplace
programs likejob-sharing and on-site child care.
—
3
Finally, we must strengthen public investments for our future
through full funding for existing programs, better coordination of
services for families, and adequate and secure funding over the
long run, perhaps through a children's trust fund.
Inherent in this approach is the notion that we must look at the
family as a whole. We cannot claim to help the family through one
policy while cutting back on assistance in another area. For this
reason, I also intend to propose a short list of key indicators of the
well-being of children and families, set goals for improvements in
those areas, and hold ourselves accountable over the years.
There can be no greater priority for our Nation than to strength-
—
en families all families. In their hands lies our survival today and
for generations to come.
[Prepared statement ofSenator Dodd follows:]
Prepared Statement of Senator Dodd
Welcome to the Subcommittee on Children, Family, Drugs and
Alcoholism. Today, we begin our work for the 102nd Congress with
a set ofhearings on the status ofthe American family in the 1990's
and Federal policies to strengthen families, the crisis in the Per-
sian Gulf is rightfully foremost in our thoughts today. But much as
we must marshall all efforts toward a peaceful and just resolution
there, we cannot in the meantime turn away from the daunting
challenges we face right here at home.
Despite the surface prosperity, the 1980's were a tough decade
for American families. Caught in an economic vise of declining real
income and rising costs for basic necessities, families sent more
members into the work force, took on more debt, and went without
health insurance or home ownership. Poverty rates increased, espe-
cially among the one-fifth ofchildren who today live below the pov-
erty line.
Middle-income families worked longer and sacrificed more just to
stay even. Since average wages dropped 9 percent over the last
decade, families kept up only by sending mothers with children
into the workforce. On average, each parent in a two-earner family
works 3 weeks more every year than he or she used to. A down
payment on a house now costs 50 percent of average annual
income, up from 33 percent in 1978. Similarly, a year at a private
college costs $14,000, up from $8,000 in 1967. The American dream
of home ownership and a college education for the children slips
further and further away.
Profound changes in family structure have occurred as well.
Almost three-quarter of children live in two-parent families. The
most common family arrangement is for both parents to be in the
labor force. Forty-two percent of children live in this arrangement,
while 29 percent live in the traditional Ozzie and Harriet family.
Over the decade, children living with one parent have increased
from 20 percent to 24 percent, in large part because of the decline
of long-term marriage. Divor—ce rates have stabilized since the
1970's, but at very high levels nearly a million children see their
parents divorced every year.
The pressures on families are—taking a severe toll. We see many
signs that families are in crisis child abuse, spousal violence, alco-
4
hoi and substance abuse, entry into foster care, and teen suicide
are all on the rise. More subtle, but equally alarming, are studies
that show greater difficulties in school and in other facets of life
experienced by children from disrupted families.
Despite these challenges, I believe that this decade and the next
century hold greater promise for the family than ever before. Our
Nation possesses great economic resources, if only these resources
can be directed toward the well-being of our Nation's children. We
know what works. We have proven time and time again that early
investment in health and education of children pays off tremen-
dously over the long run. In communities across the country, pro-
grams that work have emerged. The bonds and caring traditionally
provided by the immediate family are being supplemented and
strengthened by extended families and neighborhood-based serv-
ices. Communities have found new ways to protect their most frag-
ile families.
Similarly, at the national level, the goal of supporting America's
families cuts across partisan lines. In the last Congress we found
broad support for policies to help children: a landmark new Feder-
al program for child care, expansion of Head Start, and expansion
of Medicaid for poor children. In this Congress, we can build on
that foundation and develop other innovative policies to help fami-
lies help themselves. — —
Government policy and society in general must put children
and fa—milies first. First, we must do more to keep the family to-
gether through family preservation programs and through
changes in divorce law which emphasize children needs. S—econd, we
must provide better income support for at-risk families through
changes in tax policies for families with children and a child sup-
port system that assures benefits high enough to avoid poverty.
Third, we must provide greater assistance for balancing work and
—
family through a national family leave policy and workplace pro-
grams like job sharing and on-site child care. Finally, we must
strengthen public investments for the future—through full funding
for existing programs, better coordination of services for families,
and adequate and secure funding over the long run, perhaps
through a Children's Trust Fund.
Inherent in this approach is the notion that we must look at the
family as a whole. We cannot claim to help the family through one
policy while cutting back on assistance in another area. For this
reason, I also intend to propose a short list of key indicators of the
well-being of children and families, set goals for improvements in
those areas, and hold ourselves accountable over the years.
There can be no greater priority for our Nation than to strength-
—
en families all families. In their hands lies our survival today and
for generations to come.
I am delighted today to have with me Senator Orrin Hatch, the
ranking minority member of the Full Labor Committee. Since this
is our first time together in a formal setting as we begin the 102nd
Congress, let me repeat what I said at the close of the last Con-
gress, and that is that we would never have had a child care bill,
would never have been able to accomplish what we did with Head
Start or Medicaid without his help and support. There are a lot of
people who can claim their involvement and support, and we ap-
5
preciate it immensely. But we were only able to achieve those re-
sults because Orrin Hatch decided it was important and waded in
and made it possible.
So for public record again let me say to him what I have said to
him in private over and over again, and that is my deep apprecia-
tion and thanks for his commitment to American families and
their children. It is a pleasure to have you here this morning.
Opening Statement of Senator Hatch
Senator Hatch. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate those
kind remarks. Everybody knows the tremendous effort that you
put forth in these areas, especially on child care. There were a lot
ofpeople who did not think we would get a child care bill last year.
We not only got one, but we got legislation that everybody can be
proud of. But, it is only the beginning toward solving some of these
problems.
I don't know of a greater problem in America today than the
problems that beset our families. We all—have different ideas on
what will be the best approaches to take some of them are great
ideas, some of them are less great. But the fact is that everybody
on this Labor and Human Resources Committee is committed to
trying to do what is best and in the best interest ofAmerican fami-
lies.
So I am very pleased that you are holding these hearings. I also
want to congratulate you, Mr. Chairman, for the outstanding wit-
nesses that you have here today. I would like to welcome each and
every one of you and express my appreciation for the efforts that
you are putting forth.
Ms. Harper, we have watched you through the years and have
great admiration for you. I have watched what you have done for
the homeless and for others in so many different ways, and it
means a great deal to us to have you here this morning represent-
ing RESULTS.
I am on the Intelligence Committee, and I can't stay very long,
so I hope you will all forgive me for having to leave. But I just
wanted to come and pay my respects to the chairman and to each
ofyou. I am very interested in these issues and want to do as much
as I can to cooperate with my chairman here and further the work
of those who really come up with ideas that are beneficial for the
families in this country.
So thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Dodd. Thank you, Orrin, and we've got a terrific agenda
for you this Congress, too.
Senator Hatch. Yes, I understand.
Senator Dodd. Are you getting nervous?
Senator Hatch. I came from the last Congress nervous. [Laugh-
ter.]
Senator Dodd. By the way, I have sent around in the audience
and to the press tables copies of the Family Report Card Chart. I
can't read the chart from here, myself, and I'm sure you can't, but
these indicators range from low birth-weight children down to chil-
dren living with one family and examine statistically what has
happened since 1960 in these areas. Generally, I would tell you
6
that the charts indicate some improvements in a number of areas.
There is a tendency to say everything is getting worse and worse,
but it is rea—lly not. In some areas there have been some real im-
provements for instance, in low birth-weight babies; it is fairly
static, but it hasn't dropped as people might have assumed. And
children graduating from high school actually is a little bit better,
not much, by about three percentage points from where we were in
1960. The one statistic that, maybe more than anything else, shows
you what has happened is children in poverty. In 1960, almost 27
percent were living in poverty, and in 1970, as a result of the war
on poverty, that number dropped by almost 10 percent, where
down to 15 percent of our children were living in poverty in 1970.
The 1970's were sort of static, in 1980 it remained at 18 percent. It
is now back up to 20.6 percent in 1987. So you can see that number
has risen from 1970 to 1987.
The other one I'd mention to you is children living with one
parent, because that will highlight a reason why we have had so
many difficulties in a lot of areas. In 1960, 9.1 percent of children
were living with one parent only. In 1987, it is almost one in four,
or 25 percent. So that is the most dramatic increase.
But I would draw your attention to all those numbers. What we
intend to do is to keep this up and remind people of where we are
headed in these basic areas.
I am delighted to welcome our first witness here this morning in
these 2 days of hearings. She is obviously someone who is very
well-known because of her remarkable accomplishments as an
actor. But she is here today primarily because of her involvement
and concern with children, dating back over a decade and a half.
Not just as someone who shows up to help, which many people do,
—
and we applaud t—hem for doing that it will help draw attention to
a particular issue but as someone who has waded in over and over
and over again on one matter after another affecting children, both
here at home and abroad.
She is a member of the board of directors of RESULTS; the co-
founder of LIFE, which stands for a program called "Love is Feed-
ing Everyone,'' a program that feeds 100,000 people in the Los An-
geles area every, single week. Valerie Harper can claim initial in-
volvement and sponsorship ofthat particular effort.
She has been involved in the United Nations World Summit on
Children, where she did a tremendous job in focusing attention on
this particular area. She has worked on The Hunger Project; the
1989 Housing Now march, in this city; and has been deeply in-
volved with Save the Children for years.
So we are delighted to welcome you here, in one capacity as a
well-known performer, but more importantly, if I might say be-
cause of your commitment and your involvement and your dedica-
tion to children and families and because you bring us first-hand
knowledge of what needs to be done in this country ifwe are going
to continue the progress we have seen in some areas and make life
even better for what Governor Lawton Chiles called "the farm
team of America" yesterday, which I think was a wonderful analo-
gy.