[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 106 (Thursday, August 4, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               DEADBEAT DADS AND DAD-FINDER ACTS OF 1994

  (Mr. COOPER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COOPER. Mr. Speaker, last year American fathers owed their own 
children $34 billion. Let me repeat that. American fathers owed their 
own children $34 billion in unpaid child support. That is almost 
exactly the cost of the entire U.S. welfare program. In other words, if 
American fathers paid their bills, we would barely even need a welfare 
program.
  How do American children get more of the money owed to them by their 
own fathers? Well, cosponsor with me today my Deadbeat Dad and Dad-
Finder Acts of 1994. I am introducing a simple three-step approach. 
First of all, countless fathers today are never even identified. No 
male name even appears on the birth certificate. We must do everything 
possible to locate every father and hold them responsible.
  Second, we must toughen collection procedures. We must track fathers 
across State lines. We must garnish all sources of income. We must hold 
them responsible.
  Third, we must make grandparents responsible as well. Deadbeat dads 
are not the only ones who should care about these children. These are 
grandchildren too.

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