Families are the essential building block of any functioning society. Moreover, families are a source of joy, fulfillment, and love. They are responsible for creating and raising the next generation. This is not only critical for creating new cohorts of taxpayers and workers, but for passing on values and customs that encourage stability and continuity, and help societies thrive. Families also serve as the first line of defense against deprivation: We expect family members to provide for one another during times of need.
We want family life to be more affordable. We want everyone to have more resources so they can raise happy and healthy children and have vibrant communities. The good news is that there are numerous, actionable ideas and policy reforms that policymakers can embrace to make it easier for people to start and sustain families. This report provides an overview of policies that federal and state lawmakers can pursue to help make that happen.
