Right now, the federal government can revoke, restrict, or limit a U.S. passport when a parent falls more than $2,500 behind on child support — but it isn't required to act. This bill would make revocation mandatory in those cases and drop the softer options of restricting or limiting the passport. Parents affected would have to be notified first, and if someone is stuck abroad and needs to get home, the State Department could issue a one-time temporary passport for the trip back. Supporters frame it as a firmer lever to make delinquent parents pay what their children are owed.
Congressional Summary
Ensuring Children Receive Support ActThis bill specifies that the Department of State must revoke passports for certain individuals who fail to make child support payments.Under current law, if the Office of Child Support Enforcement of the Department of Health and Human Services receives information from a state that an individual owes more than $2,500 in child support, the State Department must refuse to issue the individual a passport and may revoke a previously issued passport. The bill specifies that the State Department must revoke a previously issued passport in these circumstances. The bill also provides statutory authority for the State Department to allow such an individual to be issued a limited-duration passport for direct return to the United States.For more information about this bill, see CRS Insight IN12660.
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-12-18
- Date Added
- 2026-04-23
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