State of Indiana Archives: on Families & Children

Eric Holcomb: Levels of Care program: Reduce infant mortality

Todd Young: House Adoption Caucus: raise awareness of foster parenting

As a member of the House Adoption Caucus, he's trying to raise awareness of adoption opportunities right here in Indiana.

Mike Pence: Let parents and doctors decide on HPV vaccinations

HPV is a virus linked to several forms of cancer, including cervical cancer, and only around 20 percent of Hoosiers are currently vaccinated against it. The bill was defeated after several lawmakers voiced concerns about the state requiring parents to vaccinate.

Pence says setting a goal could lead to a vaccination requirement. "I just think this is a matter better left to parents in consultation with their doctors," Pence says. He says the state already does enough by providing information to parents about the vaccine.

Charlie Hardy: Many parents worry about not providing for their children

"There are sick people in Wyoming who are unable to go and get medical attention they want. There are kids who want to continue their education, but they can't. We must run, and we must win because of all of these things," he said.

Mike Pence: Adoption is a beautiful way for families to come together

Karen says people always tell her she's changing her kids' lives. She says, "They are changing mine." Please join me in welcoming Karen and her children tonight.

Adoption is a beautiful way for families to come together forever. We can better support families like Karen's by expanding and improving adoption in Indiana. We can improve the way we place children from state care into adoptive homes, and we can support every parent who is willing to lovingly adopt a child into their home. Let's make it our aim to make Indiana the most pro-adoption state in America.

Todd Rokita: Background checks & FBI screening for every school worker

We have worked to ensure that every school employee--from the cafeteria workers, to the administrators, to the janitors--that everyone is subject to a complete background check that includes the FBI fingerprint identification system and the National Sex Offender Registry.

Today, we have an opportunity to finish the fight by sending this bill, the Protecting Students From Sexual and Violent Predators Act, to the Senate. H.R. 2083 will require states to ensure that each school employee is subject to a complete national criminal background check. This commonsense legislation will help ensure students are safe from sexual criminals.

Richard Lugar: Government should play no role reproductive health services

Richard Mourdock: Government should play no role reproductive health services

Joe Donnelly: Understands Hoosier values of family, faith, and hard work

After practicing law and working in business for 15 years, Joe opened his own small business, Marking Solutions, based out of Mishawaka. Marking Solutions was a printing and rubber stamp company and enjoyed success in its 10 years of operation.

Mitch Daniels: Nothing more contemptible than failing to pay child support

We have raised the percentage of child support collected from about 50% to 58%. We need new tools to make further headway. For instance, a delinquent father who wins money in one of our casinos [must] share the take with his children.