Vance endorses conservative family agenda from Project 2025 authors

In 2017, JD Vance, an Ohio Senator and ally of Donald Trump, endorsed a conservative family agenda through his introduction to a collection of essays published by The Heritage Foundation. This index, titled Index of Culture and Opportunity, advocated for traditional family structures, emphasizing the importance of two-parent households consisting of a mother and father. The essays suggested that government benefits like affordable housing and welfare encourage dependency rather than self-sufficiency, arguing that strong families are the best solution to poverty. The index also promoted restrictive views on reproductive rights, calling for laws to limit access to abortion and suggesting that abortion should become 'unthinkable.' It criticized modern reproductive technologies such as IVF and surrogacy, advocating for women to have children at younger ages. Vance praised the index for addressing issues he experienced in his own life, such as growing up in a low-income household and the impact of family structure on children. One essay highlighted the absence of fathers in children's lives, particularly in relation to activities like playing baseball, suggesting that single-parent families face greater challenges. The authors collectively argued that the ideal environment for raising children is within a traditional family unit, which they believe fosters better outcomes for children. This conservative agenda laid the groundwork for Project 2025, a plan proposed by The Heritage Foundation for future Republican administrations, reflecting a broader movement within the party towards traditional family values and restrictive social policies.