[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