Press Releases
Grothman Supports Coalition of Family Groups on Marriage Penalty Reforms
Washington,
January 7, 2026
|
Sydney Maingot
(2022243121)
Congressman Glenn Grothman (R-WI) voiced strong support for a coalition of family and faith-based organizations urging House leadership to address marriage penalties embedded in federal welfare programs as part of a future budget reconciliation package. Grothman has long led efforts in Congress to eliminate policies that penalize marriage and undermine family stability. Grothman has repeatedly warned that federal welfare rules discourage marriage, weaken families, and trap parents and children in cycles of dependency - in some cases costing families tens of thousands of dollars simply for choosing to marry. Ending marriage penalties is not a partisan topic. Congressman Grothman has worked across the aisle on this issue, introducing bipartisan legislation, the Student Loan Marriage Penalty Elimination Act, recognizing that the federal government should not punish Americans for forming stable families. “Marriage penalties are one of the most damaging and misguided features of the federal welfare system,” said Rep. Glenn Grothman. “For decades, Washington has punished families for getting married, discouraging responsibility and trapping parents and children in long-term dependency. This apparently commonsense proposal to stop punishing marriage will not be without its enemies. “And it is not just about economics: children in single-parent or unstable homes are more than twice as likely to be abused or neglected[1], often by unrelated adult partners in the household. Encouraging strong, stable families can help protect children and prevent these types of domestic tragedies. “We cannot fully say that America is great again while we still have these marriage penalties in place. Strong families lead to stronger communities and a stronger nation, and it’s time our policies reflected that. I’ve been pushing to fix these inequities for years, and now Congress has a real opportunity to end these penalties, reward families, and stop federal policies that undermine marriage.” Key Excerpts from the Coalition Letter “Marriage is at the heart of strong families. Decades of research show that children do better when raised in married households, and that strong families reduce poverty, improve economic outcomes, and foster the social stability necessary for a thriving nation. Yet too many federal means-tested programs actively discourage marriage, penalizing the very values our country should be encouraging. In certain cases, these penalties can amount to as much as $27,727, making marriage financially irrational for many families.”
“Polling shows that this issue has broad support across the country as 82 percent of Americans agree the welfare system should not penalize parents for marrying. Moreover, marriage penalties drive up long-term welfare costs by discouraging self-sufficiency and trapping families in dependency, undermining both fiscal responsibility and family stability.” The letter was led by American Principles Project and signed by Heritage Action, Capability Consulting, Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Advancing American Freedom, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of Southern Baptist Convention, AdvanceUSA, Coalition for Jewish Values, Faith and Liberty in the Nation’s Capital, Eagle Forum, Family Policy Alliance, Students for Life Action, Faith and Freedom Coalition, Independent Women’s Forum, Family Watch International, Brad Wilcox, and Jamie Bryan Hall. Grothman is continuing his work to eliminate marriage penalties. On January 13, 2026, he will host a panel discussion titled, ‘Marriage and the Government: How Public Policy Undermines Marriage’. Grothman will be joined by the Republican Study Committee, the Values Action Taskforce Chairman Congressman Robert Aderholt, the Heritage Foundation’s Robert Rector, the American Principals Project, and other groups to discuss possible solutions to eliminate these penalties, their negative effects on society, and how to restore the American Family. More information will be forthcoming. [1] https://thelifeofasinglemom.com/single-mom-statistics-the-truth-about-single-moms/#:~:text=Bureau%2C%202018).-,Abuse,to%20use%20drugs%20or%20alcohol -30- U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah) proudly serves the people of Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives
Link to letter: 2026 Marriage Penalties Letter to Speaker.docx |