Barbara Boxer: “What we are saying here is if you are a deadbeat dad or a deadbeat mom and have fallen behind on your child support more…”

“What we are saying here is if you are a deadbeat dad or a deadbeat mom and have fallen behind on your child support more than 2 months, you must not be eligible for means-tested Federal benefits. I have modified that amendment with the help of Senator Santorum. We exclude emergency medical care and nutrition assistance for teenage parents, but basically if you do not sign a repayment schedule committing yourself to make up for those delinquent payments, you will not get benefits such as housing assistance or SSI or food stamps. We feel it is very important to send a message to deadbeat parents. I ask Senators to give us an aye vote.”