S.2131 - Dads Matter Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The Dads Matter Act of 2025 aims to increase awareness of the importance of father inclusion and engagement during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. It directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to carry out a public awareness campaign and issue guidance to states on encouraging father involvement. The Act also mandates a GAO study to assess the effectiveness of these initiatives.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to increased public awareness campaigns and resources promoting father involvement in maternal and infant health. States may receive guidance on how to incentivize healthcare providers to include fathers in prenatal and postnatal care. Ultimately, the goal is to improve maternal and infant health outcomes by recognizing and supporting the role of fathers.
Potential Benefits
- Improved maternal and infant health outcomes through increased father involvement.
- Enhanced support systems for mothers during pregnancy and postpartum.
- Increased awareness of the benefits of father-infant bonding.
- Potential reduction in postpartum mood and anxiety disorders.
- Better access to resources and information for fathers.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased burden on healthcare providers to implement new training and education programs.
- Risk of the public awareness campaign being ineffective if not properly targeted or funded.
- Possible resistance from individuals or groups who do not support the premise of the bill.
- The GAO study may reveal limited effectiveness, leading to questions about the value of the program.
- Potential for unfunded mandates on states if the federal government does not provide adequate resources to support the implementation of the guidance.
Constitutional Alignment
The Dads Matter Act appears to align with the general welfare clause of the Constitution, as it aims to improve public health outcomes for mothers and children. Specifically, the preamble of the Constitution states the goal to "promote the general Welfare". The Act does not appear to infringe upon any specific constitutional rights or limitations. The Act falls under the purview of Congress's power to legislate on matters related to health and social welfare.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).