[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book I)]
[March 2, 1995]
[Pages 290-291]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Letter to Congressional Leaders on Child Support Enforcement
March 2, 1995

Dear Mr. Chairman:
    I am writing to reiterate my firm belief that Congress must pass 
tough child support enforcement measures as part of welfare reform. When 
absent parents don't provide support, the inevitable result is more 
welfare, more poverty, and more difficult times for our children. It is 
essential that all Americans understand that if they parent a child, 
they will be held responsible for nurturing and providing for that 
child.
    I am doing everything in my power to crack down on child support 
enforcement. In 1993, we collected a record $9 billion in child 
support--a 12 percent increase over the previous year. Last week, I 
signed an Executive Order to ensure that federal employees who owe child 
support live up to their responsibilities as parents, and that the 
federal government will do its utmost to help find parents with 
delinquent child support claims. Our welfare reform plan included the 
toughest child support measures ever proposed. If absent parents aren't 
paying child support, we will garnish their wages, suspend their 
licenses, track them across state lines, and if necessary, make them 
work off what they owe.
    Parental responsibility should not become a partisan issue. At the 
bipartisan national Working Session on Welfare Reform that I hosted at 
Blair House, Republican and Democratic leaders from around the country 
and every level of government agreed that we should enact the toughest 
child support enforcement measures possible.
    I hope the committee will not shy away from its responsibilities on 
this issue. A number of bills similar to our plan could serve as the 
foundation for any effort to reform child support--including the one 
offered by Representatives Barbara Kennelly, Nancy Johnson, and others. 
Critical elements include denying welfare benefits to any unwed mother 
who does not cooperate fully in identifying the father, powerful 
measures for tracking interstate cases, and serious penalties--including 
license suspension, and if necessary, requiring work--for parents who 
refuse to pay what they owe. We must also include both the performance 
incentives and resources states need to do the job right.
    It is time to get serious about child support in this country. I 
look forward to working with Congress to get it done.
    With best wishes,
        Sincerely,

                                                      William J. Clinton

Note: Identical letters were sent to Bill Archer, chairman, and Sam 
Gibbons, ranking member, House Committee on Ways and Means. An original 
was not available for verification of the content of this letter. The 
Executive order of February 27 is listed in Appendix D at the end of 
this volume.

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