The following post is the first of 6 tests that the subcommittee looked at to see if GRANDPARENTS VISITATION RIGHTS could be considered for Federal Legislation in the form of a UNIFORM ACT. As you will see there is a rigorous process that any issue has to go through before it moves from being within the States Rights and becomes the law of the land.
The first question posed by Committee Chairman, then Senator John East (R) OHIO was “Should there be any legislation providing visitation rights to Grandparents at all?”
Senator East’s first paragraph in his following comment sets the stage for the consideration of this question. “Common sense would tell most of us that most children benefit from contacts with grandparents. Such connections are likely to promote healthy growth and a general sense of well being. When marriages break up, connection with extended family members may help cushion the trauma for the children of these marriages. We do not need social scientists to tell us, either, that contact with grandchildren usually promotes the health and welfare of grandparents.”
He then proceeds to balance the issue by questioning if the courts are equipped to handle family matters beyond the scope of divorce.
He also poses the point that “The parent-child relationship has remained pretty well unassailable in American jurisprudence.”
These are all good and tough questions that deserve answers. The answers to this first question will be covered in part 8 of this series when I summarize the findings of this committee.
THANKS FOR BEING CARING GRANDPARENTS
