[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 22, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H2033-H2034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  EFFECTIVE CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT: ADMINISTRATIVE LIENS AND FULL 
                            FAITH AND CREDIT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. 
[[Page H2034]]  Torkildsen] is recognized for 5 minuets.
  Mr. TORKILDSEN. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow I will introduce legislation 
that will greatly improve our country's approach to child support 
enforcement, by allowing for the placement of administrative liens on 
real property between States.
  Currently, a parent responsible for supporting dependent children may 
flee one State for another. While the law allows for the attachment of 
wages, it does nothing to allow a custodial parent to place a lien on 
real property. Thus, a parent can avoid paying support payments simply 
by keeping his or her wealth tied up in real estate, fancy cars, boats, 
and the like.
  Under current law, the only solution would be for a custodial parent 
to travel to the other State to place a lien. This is not a realistic 
solution for most custodial parents.
  Imposing liens on the properties of delinquent parents can be a 
highly effective means of forcing payment of child support. States 
already allow the use of liens within their own States, but few States 
coordinate this process between States.
  My bill would establish full faith and credit for liens imposed in 
other States.
  For example, my home State of Massachusetts currently has this 
arrangement with neighboring Vermont. If a delinquent parent flees to 
Vermont from Massachusetts, Vermont will enforce the Massachusetts lien 
on real property in Vermont, without forcing the custodial parent to 
travel to Vermont to fight a
 legal fight there.

  If every State had this type of agreement, delinquent parents would 
have no place in the United States to run.
  They would be unable to hide their wealth in expensive cars, boats or 
real estate while neglecting their children and asking the taxpayers to 
pick up the support payments.
  Massachusetts has been using administrative liens since 1992. Since 
then, 90,000 liens have been placed, with $13 million collected in past 
due support.
  The Massachusetts Child Support Enforcement Division estimates that 
about one third of delinquent parents own property eligible for a lien.
  The booklet, with the 10 most wanted list of child support 
enforcement reforms, can serve for a model for child support 
enforcement efforts.
  I urge my colleagues to support this legislation to allow the 
placement of administrative liens for the enforcement of child support 
payments. This is only one step to increase child support payments.
  Unpaid child support payments amount to $34 billion or more. Many 
children denied these legally owed payments turn to the taxpayers for 
support. We need this type of common sense reform in overhauling our 
welfare system, and forcing delinquent parents to support their 
children.

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