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HUMAN SERVICES FEDERAL ISSUES

HUMAN SERVICES AND WELFARE COMMITTEE

 

United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

March 6, 2007

Dear Senators Rockefeller, Cornyn, Kohl, Snowe, and Coleman:

NCSL strongly supports your legislation repealing the provision in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 that prohibits states from using child support incentive funds to match federal funds for the program.   When this action was taken, the Congressional Budget Office identified the cut as an intergovernmental mandate that exceeds the threshold of the Unfunded Mandate Reform Act.   

States have used incentive funds to draw down federal funds used for integral parts of the child support enforcement program.  The funds have allowed states to establish and enforce child support obligations, obtain health care coverage for children, and link low-income fathers to job programs.   The cut ignored the fact that funds for child support enforcement are used effectively and responsibly.  In fact, the child support enforcement program received a Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) rating of “effective,” and continues to be one of the highest rated block or formula grants of all federal programs.  

Consistent child support helps save children from being raised in poverty.  Reductions in child support administrative funds inevitably lead to lower child support collections, leaving families less able to achieve self-sufficiency.  

State legislators applaud your efforts to undo this ill-considered action of the previous Congress.  We urge the 110^th Congress to adopt your bill.    Please have your staff contact Sheri Steisel (sheri.steisel@ncsl.org) or Lee Posey (lee.posey@ncsl.org) for further information or assistance.

Sincerely,

Delegate Sandy Rosenberg Maryland Chairman, NCSL Human Services and Welfare Committee

Senator Leticia Van de Putte  Texas    President, NCSL

Representative Donna Stone Delaware President Elect, NCSL