Ensuring Children Receive Support Act
Summary
The "Ensuring Children Receive Support Act" (H.R. 6903) aims to strengthen child support enforcement by requiring the Secretary of State to revoke U.S. passports of individuals with child support arrearages exceeding $2,500. The bill amends Section 452(k) of the Social Security Act, removing the option to restrict or limit passports, mandating revocation instead. An exception is provided for emergency return travel to the U.S., allowing for a temporary passport of limited duration.
Expected Effects
The primary effect of this bill would be to increase the likelihood of collecting child support payments from individuals who are significantly behind on their obligations. This could lead to improved financial stability for families receiving child support. The revocation of passports could also create hardship for affected individuals, potentially impacting their ability to travel for work or personal reasons.
Potential Benefits
- Increased child support payments to families.
- Potential reduction in the financial burden on single-parent households.
- Strengthened enforcement of child support obligations.
- May incentivize parents to prioritize child support payments.
- Could improve the well-being of children receiving support.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential hardship for individuals needing to travel for work or family emergencies.
- Possible legal challenges based on due process or right to travel.
- Administrative burden on the Department of State and HHS.
- May disproportionately affect lower-income individuals who struggle to meet child support obligations.
- Risk of unintended consequences, such as driving individuals further underground or hindering their ability to earn income to pay support.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutionality could be challenged under the Fifth Amendment's due process clause, arguing that revoking a passport infringes on the right to travel without adequate due process. The power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign commerce (Article I, Section 8) could be invoked to support the law, as passport control is related to international travel. The balance between ensuring child support and protecting individual liberties would be a key consideration.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).