Strong mothers

OPINION:

This Sunday was Mother’s Day. It’s always an occasion I enjoy sharing with my three grown children and five grandchildren. It’s also a time to recognize the sacrifice and eternal devotion our mothers and other strong women have given in our lives.

Women are playing an ever-greater role in the workforce while in many situations continuing to be the primary caretakers for their families. In 1950, less than 12 percent of mothers with children under the age of six were in the work force. Today, more than 60 percent of them work outside the home. Also, the dynamic of the workforce has changed in 50 years. Our economy, communications, and daily lives are more globally connected than they ever have been. Our kids are experiencing aspects of life we never did as children — both good and bad.

Because of these dramatic changes, I, along with my female House Republican colleagues, started asking women around the country what issues are keeping them up at night. The response was clear. They said they worried about whether their children were really safe at school; whether they would be able to afford health care for the entire family in the future; and how the high cost of food and gas are affecting their family budget. Having been a single working mother myself, I can relate to all of these concerns.

It was because of these issues that we crafted the American Families Agenda: Assuring the American Dream. I believe this agenda is the right cure for many of those sleepless nights. It’s time Washington catches up with the concerns average families are faced with on a daily basis.House floor procedures and processes are important, but family budgets and taking care of loved ones are the real issues families are concerned about. We can’t ignore or continue to sideline the fact that we are experiencing a rough patch in our nation’s history. My party learned a tough lesson in 2006. We lost focus of the priorities and challenges that are most important to people. This agenda is an important step in remedying that mistake.

Americans are living longer, and consequently women are taking care of their children and families longer than ever before. Families are concerned about the quality of care and costs associated with putting their parents in an assisted living facility. Others bring their parents into their home to live with them, and now have to budget for the additional expenses.

In addition to caring for elderly parents, women are responsible for their children’s health care. Today in the United States , 75 percent of all health-related spending goes to chronic, preventable conditions. Women understand the importance of preventative care, but many cannot afford to take their children for regular check-ups and screenings for common diseases. Making preventative care a higher priority and more accessible for everyone is not only good policy but also has the potential to significantly reduce the financial burden on families over the long-term.

Parents are also working to save for their child’s college education — but in the meantime, they are concerned about whether their child is being adequately prepared for college. They are also worried about their child being able to find a good job after college that will lead to a promising future. A renewed focus on childhood education needs to be a priority. In many cases, our schools are not adequately preparing our kids to advance — whether that advancement is to the next grade level or to higher education after they finish high school.

In addition, families are concerned about security — and not just national security. With children spending more and more time online, parents are concerned about the increasing presence of online predators. More needs to be done to protect families in the 21st century against technological innovations that are intended for children’s benefit that unfortunately are manipulated to harm them.

These are just some of the issues we need to focus on, because they are the fundamental concerns facing American families. The American Families Agenda addresses these issues in a commonsense way that will help support families and make it easier for them to realize the American dream.

Rep. Kay Granger, Texas Republican, is vice chairman of the House Republican Conference.