Murphy, Duffy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Dead Beat Parents

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) joined with U.S. Representative Sean Duffy (WI-07) to introduce the Child Support Assistance Act, bipartisan legislation to improve enforcement of delinquent child support payments. Specifically, the bill would eliminate the requirement that state and local child support agencies and courts notify a dead beat parent 10 days before retrieving current employment data.

"Regulations should work for the people -- not against them. The victims of this senseless 10 day notice requirement are single parents, disproportionately women, who struggle daily to raise children with little or no support. This bill would crack down on dead beat parents, who shirk their legal obligation to support their children," said Rep. Murphy. "I am proud to work across the aisle with Mr. Duffy, who understands that the law should be on the side of hardworking parents trying to provide for their children."

"Regardless of the parents' relationship, this must first and foremost be about the kids and the responsibility that parents have to care for them. The law should not encourage or provide parents a way out of supporting their children," said Rep. Duffy. "During Wednesday's hearing, the representative for the consumer reporting industry indicated his support to strike the 10-day provision from the law, and I am very glad to work with Mr. Murphy on legislation that would do exactly that."

The Fair Credit Reporting Act states that consumer reports can be obtained without any waiting period for certain permissible purposes, including debt collection. Agencies in western states have been obtaining consumer reports without the 10 day notice due to a recent court ruling. The Child Support Assistance Act would clarify the process for streamlined enforcement of court ordered child support.

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