    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [September 8, 2008]
    [Pages 1183-1184]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Message to the Senate Transmitting the Hague Convention on the
    International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family
    Maintenance
    September 8, 2008

    To the Senate of the United States:
        I transmit herewith the Hague Convention on the International
    Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance, adopted
    at The Hague on November 23, 2007, and signed by the United States on
    that same date, with a view to receiving the advice and consent of the
    Senate to ratification, subject to the reservations and declaration set
    forth in the report of the Secretary of State. The report of the
    Secretary of State, which includes an overview of the Convention, is
    enclosed for the information of the Senate.
        The United States supported the development of the Convention as a
    means of promoting the establishment and enforcement of child support
    obligations in cases where the custodial parent and child are in one
    country and the non-custodial parent is in another. The Convention
    provides for a comprehensive system of cooperation between the child
    support authorities of contracting states, establishes procedures for
    the recognition and enforcement of foreign child support decisions, and
    requires effective measures for the enforcement of maintenance
    decisions. It is estimated that there are over 15 million child support
    cases in the United States and that an increasing number of these cases
    will involve parties who live in different nations. United States courts
    already enforce foreign child support orders, while many countries do
    not do so in the absence of a treaty obligation. Ratification of the
    Convention will thus mean that more U.S. children will receive the
    financial support they need from both their parents.
        The Department of State and the Department of Health and Human
    Services, which leads the Federal child support program, support the
    early ratification of this Convention. The American Bar Association and
    the National Child Support Enforcement Association have also expressed
    support for the Convention. Although some new implementing legislation
    will be required, the proposed Convention is largely consistent with
    current U.S. Federal and State law. Cases under the Convention will be
    handled through our existing comprehensive child support system, which
    involves both Federal and State law. The Departments of State and Health
    and Human Services have been working on preparation of the necessary
    amendments to Federal law to ensure compliance with the Convention, and
    that legislation will soon be ready for submission to the Congress for
    its consideration. The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform
    State Laws has worked closely with the Departments of State and Health
    and Human Services to develop the necessary amendments to uniform State
    child support legislation.
        The Convention requires only two contracting states for entry into
    force. No state has yet ratified the Convention. Early U.S. ratification
    would therefore likely hasten the Convention's entry into force. This
    would be in the interests of U.S. families, as it would enable them to
    receive child support owed by debtors abroad more quickly and reliably.
    I therefore recommend that the Senate give prompt and favorable
    consideration to the Convention and give its advice and consent to
    ratification, subject to the reservations and declaration described in
    the accompanying report of the Secretary of State, at the earliest
    possible date.

                                                              George W. Bush

     The White House,

    [[Page 1184]]

     September 8, 2008.

    Note: This message was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on
    September 9.