Pascrell Opening Statement at Joint Subcommittee Hearing on Child Support

(As prepared for delivery)

Our discussion today may seem esoteric to some – but we are talking about real people and real families. Child support lifts millions of children out of poverty and it ensures that they have food on the table and a roof over their heads.  

In the wealthiest nation on earth, we still have nearly 12 Million children living in poverty. Child poverty reached an historic low in 2021 thanks to Democrats’ Child Tax Credit. But it more than doubled to 12.4 percent after the other side blocked a permanent extension, erasing our progress. 

For families who live in poverty and receive child support, these payments represent roughly 40 percent of their income! The impact of a missed support check on struggling families cannot be overstated. 

So, it is crucial America’s child support programs are administered effectively, given adequate resources, and have every enforcement tool. A glaring omission from our tax code has long prevented Indian tribes from fully administering their own child support programs. 

For tribal child support programs to function best, they need access to specific tax data protected by Section 6103. This is information that has long been available to states. This is a matter of tribal sovereignty and allowing tribes to address their own unique needs. 

We must also understand how states and tribal governments use contractors for child support activities. 

The recent isolated leak of sensitive data by an IRS contractor highlights the need to establish safeguards that protect taxpayers while balancing the needs of child support enforcement agencies.

Thank you, and I yield back.