Angie Craig: “my amendment will bring the child support enforcement language in this bill in line with Federal law on privacy…”

“my amendment will bring the child support enforcement language in this bill in line with Federal law on privacy protections. I understand it has been accepted by the committee, so I will keep my remarks brief. I sincerely appreciate the help and support of the chairman, Senator Roth, and the ranking member, Senator Moynihan. Mr. President, part of our effort to reform the welfare system in this country has been to ensure that parents are responsible for the financial support of their children. Efforts to streamline the ability of States to identify and collect child support payments from dead-beat parents is a big part of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996. In our ardent effort to accomplish this, however, we must also remain mindful of legal protections that should be provided for private entities that would be required to supply necessary information for the enhanced enforcement of child support payments. It is important to note that the private entities that will be required to participate in the bill's support enforcement efforts should be able to operate within the constraints of existing laws designed to protect privacy. Current privacy protections in Federal law (18 U.S.C. Sec. 2703), require that private information can be provided only pursuant to a warrant, court order, or administrative subpoena.”