Efforts Underway to Restore Child Support Cuts

____ On both the federal and state levels, measures are being taken to restore the recent cuts in child support funding. In Congress, Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) has introduced HR1386, which would repeal the federal cuts enacted in the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA)of 2005. The DRA included a $2 billion cut from the child support program nationwide.
____ In Texas, the Child Support Division of the Attorney General’s Office is set to lose $200 million in federal matching funds over the next three years. If Rep. McDermott’s bill is not passed and the cuts are carried out, Texas AG Greg Abbott estimates the cuts would force his agency to lay off over 1,000 employees from the Child Support Program. This loss of experienced, dedicated staff and needed funds would directly hurt Texas children as well, who could lose $2 billion in uncollected child support. Rep. McDermott’s bill, HR1386, along with its companion bill in the Senate, S803 sponsored by Sen. John Rockefeller (D-WV), will restore the federal matching grants to child support enforcement programs around the country. Currently, HR1386 has been referred to the House Ways and Means Committee and S803 has been sent to its equivalent, the Finance Committee, in the Senate. The only member of the Texas delegation to sign on as a cosponsor of either bill is Senator John Cornyn.
____ In the Texas Legislature, the appropriations bill passed by the House includes a measure to fully fund OAG based on the Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR) submitted by Abbott. The appropriations bill will now go before the State Senate.

Take Action to Restore Funding!

1. Call your Senators and Representative.
   Tell them: “Child Support Enforcement is a critical service for Texas children and needs to be fully funded. Please sign on as a cosponsor to HR1386 or S803.”
   
2. Call your State Senator.
   Tell them to pass the House measure to fully fund Child Support Enforcement.
   
3. Ask your coworkers to join the union!
   We can either wait for things to get worse or fight for things to improve. The union is and has been fighting these cuts, but we need everyone’s help to win. Download a TSEU application NOW!

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