Because of my concern for American families, my Administration convened
last year the first White House Conference on Families which involved seven
national hearings, over 506 state and local events, three White House
Conferences, and the direct participation of more than 125,000 citizens.
The Conference reaffirmed the centrality of families in our lives and
nation but documented problems American families face as well. We also
established the Office of Families within the Department of Health and
Human Services to review government policies and programs that affect
families.
I expect the departments and agencies within the executive branch of the
Federal government as well as Members of Congress, corporate and business
leaders, and State and local officials across the country, to study closely
the recommendations of the White House Conference and implement them
appropriately. As public policy is developed and implemented by the Federal
government, cognizance of the work of the Conference should be taken as a
pragmatic and essential step.
The Conference has done a good job of establishing an agenda for action to
assure that the policies of the Federal government are more sensitive in
their impact on families. I hope the Congress will review and seriously
consider the Conference's recommendations.