    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1996, Book I)]
    [June 18, 1996]
    [Page 927]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on the Child Support Initiative
    June 18, 1996

    Memorandum for the Secretary of Health and Human Services

    Subject: Child Support Initiative

        I hereby direct you to implement the plan I am announcing today to
    strengthen the child support system and promote parental responsibility.
        I direct you to exercise your legal authority to take the following
    steps to implement that plan:

            1)  issue proposed regulations relating to paternity
                establishment that:
           (a)  clarify the definition, under the Aid to Families with
                Dependent Children (AFDC) program, of ``cooperation'' with
                paternity establishment by requiring that a mother provide
                both the name of the father and other identifying
                information deemed appropriate by the State (except when
                there is good cause, such as being in danger of domestic
                violence, for not cooperating);
           (b)  require all applicants for assistance under the AFDC program
                to cooperate with paternity establishment efforts prior to
                the receipt of assistance; and
           (c)  require that applicants for assistance under the AFDC
                program be referred to the State child support agency within
                2 days of application, so that the agency can initiate a
                legal paternity action; and
            2)  implement a pilot program matching new-hire data collected
                by participating States with Federal Parent Locator Service
                data in order to better track parents owing child support
                obligations who have taken a job in another State.

        The plan I have outlined will help strengthen child support
    operations by toughening the paternity establishment requirements for
    applicants for welfare and by enabling States to locate, and withhold
    wages from, child support obligors who have taken a job in another
    State. Its prompt implementation is integral to achieving our goal of
    promoting the American value of parental responsibility.

                                                          William J. Clinton