Click here to contact Gov. O'Malley today and ask him to veto SB 566 and SB 597, which undermine marriage by granting marriage equivalency status to unmarried couples in certain parts of the law.

The Education and Family Life Department focuses on issues involving the education of elementary and secondary school students, and on marriage and family life. In addition to developing public policy recommendations on these issues, the Department disseminates pertinent background materials, organizes educational and training events, and facilitates Church involvement in government agencies and programs that affect education and family life.

In the area of education, the Department promotes legislation that supports parents' rights as primary educators of their children, and that increases access for all families to the education best suited to their children's needs. The Department considers educational issues affecting the students, teachers, and families of public, private, and religious schools, with a particular focus on issues that affect the Catholic school community.

In the area of family life, the Department promotes legislation that supports traditional marriage, and that enhances the ability of all families to raise their children in a stable, nurturing, and safe environment. The Department coordinates with the Social Concerns Department on issues affecting adoptive families and working parents, school health issues, and other related concerns.