[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 35 (Friday, February 24, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


          INTRODUCTION OF CHILD SUPPORT ENFORCEMENT LEGISLATION

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                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 23, 1995
  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, today, Mr. Torkildsen and I 
introduced legislation to increase the effectiveness of child support 
enforcement by requiring the imposition and execution of liens against 
the property of person past due on child support obligations. Under the 
current system, many who owe child support enjoy real estate, boats, 
luxury cars, and other assets while they do not support their children.
  Current law allows the imposition of liens by processing orders 
through the judicial system. This is a difficult process for an out of 
State parent. This legislation would improve the current system by 
ordering States to give full faith and credit to any lien imposed by 
another State in the pursuit of child support collection.
  My home State of Massachusetts has been very successful in improving 
child support and should serve as a role model for the rest of the 
country. Massachusetts has increased its child support collection rate 
from 51 to 67 percent over a 3-year period. Massachusetts has improved 
its child support collection by issuing administrative liens in every 
case where an obligor owes more than $500 in past child support. This 
type of provision on the Federal level would raise the rate of 
compliance in interstate cases.
  Currently, the potential for child support collection is 
approximately $48 billion per year. However, only $14 billion is 
actually collected. This leaves a $34 billion gap. Requiring 
administrative liens for all cases would help reduce this gap. Child 
support enforcement is an essential aspect of welfare reform. I urge 
you to support this legislation.


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