Dads Caucus

You can watch the fireside chat HERE.

WASHINGTON, DC – Ahead of Father’s Day, the Congressional Dads Caucus partnered with Equimundo to host a special fireside chat highlighting the mental health challenges facing working parents, shifting gender norms, and the rising demand for policies that support fathers as caregivers.

The event brought together Dads Caucus Chairman Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Equimundo CEO Gary Barker, 4Kira4Moms Founder Charles Johnson, and Brooklyn Stroll Club’s Joe Gonzales for a conversation on the State of American Men 2025 report and how the U.S. can better support modern fatherhood and redefine masculinity to promote healthier outcomes for men, families, and communities.

“This report confirms what many of us already know — dads in America are facing unprecedented challenges, and many don’t have the support they need,” said Rep. Jimmy Gomez (CA-34), Chairman of the Congressional Dads Caucus. “That’s why I started the Dads Caucus: to have honest conversations and push for policies that truly help working parents, including paid leave, an expanded Child Tax Credit, and affordable child care. If we want stronger families and healthier kids, we need to back dads with real support — not outdated expectations.”

“Men are telling us loud and clear: they want to be more present, more emotionally connected, and more involved at home,” said Equimundo CEO Gary Barker. “But they’re facing a system that hasn’t caught up—with workplaces, policies, and cultural expectations still built around an outdated model of manhood.”

Key findings from the State of American Men 2025 report include:

• 66% of men say they want to be more emotionally connected to their children.
• Nearly half of fathers report feeling trapped between societal expectations and personal values.
• A majority of men say caregiving is central to being a “good man”—yet only 30% feel supported in that role.

As Dads Caucus Chairman, Rep. Gomez is leading a growing coalition of more than 45 members—including three senators: Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Adam Schiff (D-CA)—in advocating for family-friendly policies that help working families afford their mortgages, rent, child care, and everyday essentials.

The Congressional Dads Caucus was founded after the 118th Congress Speaker vote to provide a forum for members of Congress to push legislation that supports working families. Since then, the caucus has gained momentum as a leading voice for policy solutions that help families thrive and make America more affordable—including creating a national paid leave program, increasing access to affordable child care, expanding the Child Tax Credit, and ensuring working parents have the resources they need to provide for their families.

Learn more about the Dads Caucus here and read the Dads Caucus 118th Congress report here.