WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Representative Patrick E. Murphy (FL-18) joined Representatives Bruce Poliquin (R-ME), and Keith Ellison (D-MN) to reintroduce the Child Support Assistance Act, H.R. 2091. Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), credit reporting agencies are required to give consumers at least 10-days’ notice when they furnish a credit report to a state or local agency for the collection of child support. In that timeframe, a parent that is intentionally avoiding paying child support has ample time to run up credit, dump savings and assets, or otherwise give the impression they can afford far less for their children. This legislation would strike that provision of the FCRA.

"Under current law, deadbeat parents are actually given an unfair advantage when it comes to paying their child support," said Rep. Murphy. "The victims of this provision are the single parents, mostly women who struggle to make ends meet, and children who have been financially abandoned by their parent. Removing this 10-day notification would place responsibility solely on the back of the parent trying to shirk their legal and moral responsibility. This bipartisan legislation will help families in Florida and across the country who are trying to provide for their children."

“Being a parent is one of the greatest and most important responsibilities as an adult,” said Rep. Poliquin. “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.”

Last year, Reps. Murphy and Sean Duffy (R-WI) introduced similar legislation following a hearing of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions.