Crisis with New Mexico Families

For Immediate Release Friday, February 11, 2011 Contact: 505-239-2336

New Mexico Senate Minority Office

Legislators Getting Their Arms Around The New Mexico Family Crisis this St. Valentine’s Day



As couples show love by putting their arms around each other this St. Valentine’s Day, New Mexico State Legislators are getting their arms around finding solutions to the crisis New Mexico families are in this holiday. The crisis and its solutions will be presented at a news conference on the Westside Capitol Steps on Monday, February 14, 2011.

“Long after the chocolate hearts are eaten and the roses are wilted, our New Mexico families will still be in crisis unless steps are taken today to improve the health of New Mexico families,” Senator Boitano said. “At a news conference on St. Valentine’s Day we are presenting a series of speakers on the crisis, specifically the impact of marriage and divorce on our families and on our community. We will also offer solutions.”

The crisis in New Mexico includes:

• The percentage of children living in poverty is 25.5% higher than the national average
• Children born to single mothers are more than 3.5 times as likely to be poor as children raised by two biological parents
• The highest rates in the nation of teen pregnancy
• Low education outcomes
• Juvenile crime

On this day that typifies love, we want to have our state show its love for its families by showing that it cares enough to do something about the broken hearts and broken families in our communities, Senator Boitano said.

The legislators at the news conference will present a number of marriage strengthening and divorce reduction bills.

Senator Mark Boitano is sponsoring a bill to create the New Mexico Marriage Commission to explore ways the state and local governments can partner with private organizations to:
• Reduce teen pregnancy
• Encourage engaged fatherhood, family formation, healthy marriages and best practices relationships
• Create better social, health and economic outcomes for children
• Reduce the rate of unnecessary divorces in New Mexico