On the recordNovember 21, 2013
I am proud today to introduce the Child Support Enforcement Effectiveness Act of 2013. This legislation will set the stage for improving child support enforcement across our country, and will provide states with more funds to allow them to do so. Through these crucial investments in this important child welfare program, we can improve the lives of thousands of children across our country. Child support enforcement is a State-Federal partnership that works. For every dollar agencies and departments spend on child support enforcement, states collect an average of $5.19 in child support due. For that reason alone, this is an extraordinary use of taxpayer dollars. In 2010, the child support enforcement program a11owed States to collect more than $26 billion on behalf of the children and families to whom that money is owed. There is no question that these children benefit because they receive support from both their parents. In addition to being an effective use of taxpayer dollars, child support enforcement is one of our most important investments in child welfare. Experts have repeatedly found that it is one of the most effective programs in reducing poverty rates among working families. For single parents below the poverty line, child support often represents as much as half of their family's income, and makes the difference between whether children's basic needs are met or not.…





