H.R. 6903, Ensuring Children Receive Support Act

H.R. 6903 would require the Department of State to revoke the passport of a noncustodial parent who owes more than $2,500 in past-due child support, except in emergency situations. Under current law, the Department of State must deny a passport application from a noncustodial parent who owes more than $2,500 in past-due child support, and may revoke, restrict or limit a passport that has already been issued to such an individual.

Based on information from the Department of State, the department currently revokes or denies passports when noncustodial parents with significant past-due child support initiate a consular activity, such as requesting a new passport, and it would not significantly alter that practice under the bill. Therefore, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 6903 would not significantly increase the amount of child support collections retained by the federal government (which are classified as reductions in direct spending). Similarly, enacting the bill would not significantly reduce the collection and spending of passport fees (those transactions are subject to appropriation).

The CBO staff contacts for this estimate are Susanne Mehlman (for child support collections) and Sunita D’Monte (for passport fees). The estimate was reviewed by Christina Hawley Anthony, Deputy Director of Budget Analysis.