Resolution Regarding the Ongoing Importance of the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men

1. Whereas, in 2002, legislators in the state of New Hampshire demonstrated leadership, foresight, and vision for the entire nation by their establishment of the first Commission on the Status of Men in the United States,
2. Whereas, men in U.S. society face unique problems that negatively impact on their physical and mental well-being and their ability to earn a living,
3. Whereas, the aforementioned problems also negatively impact on men's families, including their wives, daughters, sisters, and mothers, as well as their sons, brothers, and fathers, and society in general,
4. Whereas, men's lifespan was only 1 year shorter than women's in 1920, but by the end of the 20th century men were dying seven years sooner than women,¹
5. Whereas, the reading and writing skills of boys are more than a year behind those of girls,²
6. Whereas, even in pre-kindergarten, boys are 4.5 times more likely to be expelled than girls, and African-American boys are 10.6 times more likely to be expelled than African-American girls,³
7. Whereas, children who have a poor or nonexistent relationship with their natural father are the largest users of state-funded services,⁴
8. Whereas, children having a poor or nonexistent relationship with their natural father have lower wellness levels in the areas of safety, health, education, and economic security.⁵
9. Whereas, more than 75% of all suicides are by men,⁶
10. Whereas, the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men has actively worked with the state's Chief Medical Examiner to develop an understanding of the reasons that so many men commit suicide,
11. Whereas, legislators exacerbate these serious societal problems when they fail to consider the aforementioned facts in implementing laws, regulations, and policies,
12. Whereas, the failure to address these problems, demoralizes boys and men and prevents them from achieving their full potential,
13. Whereas, the aforementioned often results in self-destructive behaviors which harms others when turned outward, and harms the boys and men when turned inward,
14. Whereas, the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men is the only branch of New Hampshire government solely focused on identifying these issues and bringing them to the attention of the legislature,
15. Whereas, the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men has accomplished a surprising amount in spite of being prohibited by state law from receiving any funding whatsoever from the state,

Requests:

• We, the undersigned therefore wish to emphasize to the N.H. Legislature the continued importance of the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men, not only to the citizens of New Hampshire, but also to the citizens of the other 49 states. In particular the New Hampshire Commission on the Status of Men and the report it has produced is a source of information that other states look to in order to develop an understanding of such problems and for guidance on how best to formulate policy to ameliorate such problems,
• We, the undersigned furthermore wish to request that the N.H. Legislature reauthorize the Commission on the Status of Men as a permanent commission, removing the sunset provision from the original enabling legislation.