Freshman U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin introduced his first bill on Wednesday, an act that aims to make it easier for child support enforcement agencies to collect payments from parents.
The Child Support Assistance Act of 2015, sponsored by Poliquin, a Republican from Maine’s 2nd District, and Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., is backed by the National Child Support Enforcement Association, a group representing child support professionals and agencies nationwide. In a letter to Poliquin, the association said the bill would change a provision in federal credit law that has enabled some parents to make changes to their financial status to avoid paying the level of child support that they should owe.
Under current law, child support enforcement agencies must give delinquent parents 10 days’ notice before requesting a credit report, giving that person time to move savings or run up debt to avoid or reduce payments. The bill would delete that 10-day notice provision, which the association said would “provide more effectiveness and efficiencies for employers, child support agencies and, most importantly, will get money to families faster.”
Poliquin and Ellison are both members of the House Financial Services Committee, which regulates the credit industry. For his 2016 re-election race, the Maine congressman raised $700,000 in the first three months of the year, more than any House freshman raised in 2013 and second-most this year. Of that, $133,000 came from financial services industry political action committees, including $1,000 from Equifax, a credit reporting agency that also supports the bill.
“Being a parent is one of the greatest and most important responsibilities as an adult,” Poliquin said in a statement. “It’s imperative for Congress, Republicans and Democrats, to work together and ensure that our kids have all the possible opportunities to succeed and have a bright future. The Child Support Assistance Act will help our state and local authorities in assisting families to collect child support payments from delinquent parents.”
Michael Shepherd — 370-7652
Twitter: @mikeshepherdme
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