The US state of Iowa is considering legislation to make divorces more difficult to obtain.

A sub-committee of the state’s lower house has approved a bill which would make it harder for couples to end their marriages if those marriages involve children.

When the divorce impacts a child, the bill says one of five justifications must exist before the marriage can be dissolved.

They include adultery, physical or sexual abuse, and imprisonment. The bill would also allow divorce if one partner is missing for more than a year or the pair has lived apart for more than two years.

Currently, all 50 US states allow no fault divorce.

State representative Ted Gassman, a Republican, who is one of seven legislators promoting the bill argued that it was “time to look out for the children instead of constantly worrying about the adults”.

He went on to note that the issue is “near and dear” to him, alluding to his daughter and son-in-law who recently divorced.

“There’s a 16-year-old girl in this whole mix now,” Mr Gassman said, referring to his granddaughter.

 “This basically is an attempt on my part to keep fathers in the home,” he also said. “I sincerely believe that the family is the foundation of this nation and this nation will go the direction of our families. If our families break up, so will this nation.”

The bill now goes on to the full House Judiciary Committee.