Lynn C. Woolsey: “I rise in support of H.R. 4678. I commend my colleagues the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) and the…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4678. I commend my colleagues the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Mrs. Johnson) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Cardin) for their efforts to improve our country's child support system. As many of my colleagues are aware, I know firsthand the importance of child support. Thirty years ago, I was a single, working mom with three young children. In fact, my children were 1, 3, and 5 years old. My children's father did not pay court-ordered child support, and my salary alone was not enough to make ends meet. As a result, we were forced to go on welfare. Had we received child support, we would not have been on welfare. Today millions of American families still rely on welfare for the exact same reason, a deadbeat parent. That was not fair to my family 30 years ago. It is not fair to families today. And it is certainly not fair to the American taxpayers. But it is also not fair when child support is paid and the family never sees a penny because the State and the Federal Government keeps it. This bill before us today will change that. The CBO estimates that the improved 'pass through' provisions in H.R. 4678 will get more than $1 billion of child support every year into low-income families and help children in need. It is hard being a kid today, so we must show them that they are important.”