While Legislators at the national level have discussed Equal Shared Parenting, largely, there has been no forward movement.
This page is documenting (on a national level) Legislators that have commented on the topic and other relevant data.
Representative Trey Gowdy: Representative Gowdy, who served as a U.S. Representative for South Carolina’s 4th congressional district, has spoken about the importance of equal shared parenting. In a speech on the House floor in 2015, he stated that children need both parents and that equal shared parenting should be the default custody arrangement in divorce cases.
Senator Rand Paul: Senator Paul, who represents Kentucky in the U.S. Senate, has been a vocal advocate for equal shared parenting. He has introduced several bills in Congress that would promote equal shared parenting, including the Parental Rights Protection Act and the Joint Physical Custody Act.
Representative Jim Sensenbrenner: Representative Sensenbrenner, who represented Wisconsin’s 5th congressional district, has also spoken out in favor of equal shared parenting. In 2017, he introduced the Child Support Assistance Act, which would require states to consider equal shared parenting arrangements in child support cases.
Senator Lindsey Graham: Senator Graham, who represents South Carolina in the U.S. Senate, has expressed his support for equal shared parenting. In a 2018 interview with The Daily Signal, he stated that he believes children are better off when they have both parents in their lives and that equal shared parenting should be the norm.
Representative Dan Crenshaw (R-TX): In a 2019 interview, Representative Crenshaw expressed his support for equal shared parenting, stating that “we need to empower dads” and that “kids need both parents in their lives.” He has also spoken out about the importance of parental rights and has co-sponsored several bills related to family law reform.
- Representative Don Bacon (R-NE): Representative Bacon has introduced several bills aimed at promoting equal shared parenting, including the “Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Act” and the “Child Custody Protection Act.” He has argued that equal shared parenting is in the best interests of children and that both parents should have equal rights and responsibilities when it comes to making decisions about their children’s upbringing.
Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL): Gaetz has also been a vocal advocate for equal shared parenting and has introduced a bill called the “Equal Parenting Act,” which would promote equal shared parenting in cases where both parents are fit and able to care for their children.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY): Senator Gillibrand has also expressed support for equal shared parenting and has called for reforms to the family court system to prioritize the best interests of children. She has worked with Republican colleagues, including Senator Paul, to promote legislation that would support equal shared parenting.
Congressman Jim Banks (R-IN): In 2020, Rep. Jim Banks introduced a bill called the “Promoting Resilient Families Act,” which would incentivize states to adopt equal shared parenting laws. Banks has been a vocal advocate for equal shared parenting and believes that it is in the best interest of children.
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Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY): Senator Gillibrand has been a vocal opponent of equal shared parenting, arguing that it could be harmful to children and could lead to increased domestic violence. She has co-sponsored bills that would make it more difficult for courts to award joint custody in cases where there has been a history of abuse.
Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): Representative Wasserman Schultz has also been a critic of equal shared parenting, arguing that it could be harmful to children and could undermine the role of mothers in the family. She has co-sponsored bills aimed at promoting sole custody for mothers and increasing child support payments.
Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA): Representative Speier has expressed concerns about equal shared parenting, arguing that it could be harmful to children and could undermine the ability of courts to make decisions in the best interests of the child. She has co-sponsored bills aimed at promoting sole custody for mothers and increasing child support payments.
It’s worth noting that while these legislators have opposed equal shared parenting, they are in the minority. A majority of legislators in both parties support some form of shared parenting, and the issue continues to be debated and discussed in statehouses and on Capitol Hill.
