[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1992-1993, Book II)]
[September 30, 1992]
[Pages 1730-1731]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Excerpt of a White House Fact Sheet on the Child Support Enforcement 
Initiative--Project KIDS
September 30, 1992

    The President announced today a new comprehensive child support 
enforcement strategy to ensure that absent parents pay child support, no 
matter where they live. The President's initiative, Project KIDS (Keep 
Irresponsible Dads Supportive), will:
    Require wage withholding for absent parents. Universal employer 
income withholding would be required, and payroll withholding would 
follow absent parents from job to job. The tax withholding forms would 
be updated to include information on child support responsibilities.
    Overdue child support will become tax liabilities. Delinquent absent 
parents would face stiff penalties, and delinquent payments would be 
treated as tax liabilities collectible by State tax authorities and the 
Internal Revenue Service. Payments collected would be paid to custodial 
parents.
    Recognize all child support orders in all States. Require all States 
to recognize and enforce child support orders established in other 
States. Place jurisdiction for child support disputes in one State.
    Interstate nonpayment of child support as a Federal crime. Parents 
who fail to meet major interstate child support obligations, or who 
leave the State to evade those obligations, could face imprisonment.
    Cover health services in child support orders. Absent parents would 
be required to cover children under their employer's health plan when 
coverage is available at reasonable cost.
    Restrict access to Federal benefits for nonpaying parents. Any 
parent who is delinquent in child support payments would need a payment 
or deferral plan before qualifying for any new Federal benefits. 
Existing benefits will be garnished in the amount of the award and sent 
directly to the custodial parent.
    Keep up with absent parents. Custodial parents will get better 
access to existing records to track down absent parents, and new 
information will be kept to track down

[[Page 1731]]

``deadbeat dads'' when they change jobs.
    No payment/no passport. Deadbeat parents could not qualify for a 
passport, and existing passports could be withdrawn.
    No payment/no professional license. Deadbeat parents could not have 
State or Federal professional licenses issued or renewed.
    No payment/no Federal loans or loan guarantees. If deadbeat parents 
have not met obligations or do not have a plan to do so, they could not 
qualify for FHA home loans, guaranteed student loans, or any other 
Federal loan guarantee.
    Report all delinquent parents to credit bureaus. Deadbeat parents 
will risk losing access to private credit.
    Better legal services for custodial parents. Any legal services 
organization receiving funds from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) 
must use at least 10 percent of its LSC funding to help eligible 
custodial parents obtain child support.
    Make the Federal Government a model employer. Require up-to-date 
employer records and immediate payroll withholding.