Child Support Distribution Act of 2001

The Child Support Distribution Act of 2001 (S. 918) aims to reform how child support payments are handled for families receiving government assistance. The bill would change federal rules to ensure that more of the child support collected by the state goes directly to the custodial parent and children, rather than being kept by the government to offset the cost of welfare benefits.

Additionally, the legislation introduces stricter enforcement measures for parents who owe back child support. It would lower the debt threshold for denying a passport from $5,000 to $2,500 and would make non-citizens ineligible for U.S. visas if they owe more than $2,500 in unpaid support. The bill also seeks to improve the administration of child support programs by expanding the use of tax refund intercepts and increasing funding for training staff at child welfare agencies.