Heritage Foundation warns U.S. is nearing a family breakdown point

A Heritage Foundation report says U.S. marriage and birth rates have declined and recommends federal policy changes, including a proposed $2,500 investment account for each newborn and reviews of welfare rules that the report says discourage marriage.

Heritage Foundation released a report arguing that family formation in the United States has declined and should be a focus of federal policy. The report outlines a range of policy proposals intended to support marriage and long-term family formation. Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts is quoted warning that the country is close to being unable to reverse the trend. The report also raises concerns about online dating, social media, and certain digital tools as factors in changing family patterns. Key points: - The report links historically low fertility and marriage rates and a rising share of children raised outside married-parent households to decades of cultural change and policy choices. - It proposes a $2,500 "baby investment account" seeded at birth and other financial incentives such as expanded adoption support and child tax credits. - The report calls for eliminating so-called marriage penalties in welfare programs and for federal agencies to review policies for their impact on marriage and family formation. - It recommends measures addressing digital culture, including discouraging some online dating practices, a minimum age of 16 for certain social platforms and chatbots, and marriage "boot camp" classes. Summary: The report argues that reversing declines in marriage and childbirth will require coordinated policy and cultural efforts and sets out a variety of specific proposals. Undetermined at this time.