[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                      INTERSTATE CHILD SUPPORT ACT

                                 ______


                        HON. BARBARA B. KENNELLY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, during the next few months, there will be 
considerable debate about personal responsibility. One of the most 
important parts of this discussion will focus on parents' 
responsibility to nurture and support their children. Let me 
emphatically state that this obligation rests with both parents. All 
too often, the mother is left to shoulder this burden alone. There are 
both societal costs and personal tragedies that could be averted if we 
can successfully change this culture of neglect. We must send a clear 
message that both parents are legally and morally bound to support 
their children and then be prepared to track down those parents 
unwilling to live up to their obligations.
  While past legislation has improved collections for child support, we 
as a Nation still have a long way to go. Only half of all custodial 
parents receive their full child support awards, leaving millions of 
children without adequate support. Congress must end this disgrace.
  Although the Republican Contract With America sets out few details on 
child support enforcement, I believe this is an issue that we can act 
on with broad bipartisan support. I am therefore reintroducing child 
support legislation that reflects many of the recommendations of the 
U.S. Commission on Interstate Child Support, on which I served. The 
bill would enhance coordination for collecting child support across 
state lines, improve Federal tracking of delinquent orders, institute 
direct wage withholding, withhold business and driver's licenses from 
individuals owing child support, and deny Federal benefits to 
individuals with large child support arrearages.
  It is certainly worth noting that welfare reform cannot succeed 
without better child support enforcement. We cannot ask young, poor 
mothers to go out and get a job, only to let young fathers evade their 
responsibility. Not only would enhanced child support enforcement 
reimburse certain welfare costs, but in some cases it may prevent 
families from going on welfare in the first place.
  I ask my colleagues to join me today in sending a clear message that 
both parents have a responsibility to provide for their children.


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