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Committee sends HCR 18 recognizing "traditional family values month" to the floor after brief debate and testimony
Summary
The committee voted to send House Concurrent Resolution 18 — to recognize a period from Mother's Day through Father's Day as "traditional family values month" — to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation. Testimony from the Pacific Justice Institute supported the resolution; two representatives recorded no votes against forwarding it.
A House committee voted to send House Concurrent Resolution 18 to the floor with a "do pass" recommendation. The resolution would recognize a period beginning on Mother's Day and ending on Father's Day as "traditional family values month," with each week recognizing a different part of the family, according to the sponsor.
Representative Joe Alfieri, sponsor of HCR 18, said the resolution would "recognize that the core of Western civilization and the strongest foundation for the growth of children and the success of society is the traditional family." Alfieri described the traditional family broadly to include "mother, father, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etcetera." He also said he and a senator who helped draft the measure are not from "traditional families," and that the resolution "doesn't discount other forms."
Kate Hartley, an attorney for the Pacific Justice Institute, provided virtual testimony in support of the resolution. Hartley told the committee that the resolution would "give this viewpoint a spotlight" and said her firm has seen "an increase in censorship of and retaliation against those who openly speak about traditional families and traditional values." She encouraged the committee to give the resolution a do‑pass recommendation.
Representative Akiles spoke against forwarding the measure and explained why he intended to vote no. He said the resolution "could have been written to be inclusive, to emphasize the value of stable, secure families." Akiles criticized language in the resolution that he said compares historical divorce rates, saying the context for lower divorce rates in 1950 included economic and legal barriers for women. He urged the committee to focus on policies that support "families, all families," including "fully funded schools, affordable universities, low cost housing and comprehensive healthcare." Representative Green also recorded a no vote.
Representative Scott moved to send HCR 18 to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation; the motion carried. The chair recorded Representative Akiles and Representative Green as voting no on the do‑pass recommendation. No negative testimony was formally entered beyond the discussion during the committee meeting.
The resolution is now scheduled to be considered by the full House.
