HR6903-119

What This Bill Does

The Ensuring Children Receive Support Act amends Social Security Act section 452(k), the passport-enforcement provision for child-support arrears. Current law allows passport denial, revocation, restriction, or limitation for individuals certified as owing more than $2,500 in child support. The bill narrows the passport action to denial or revocation by removing restriction or limitation language.

The bill also changes the State Department's authority from "may revoke, restrict, or limit" to "revoke" and requires notice to the individual of the intent to revoke before the revocation period. If an individual is abroad and needs to return to the United States on an emergency basis, the State Department may issue a temporary passport limited to that return trip.

The House-reported version adds an effective date: the amendments take effect on October 1, 2026. The practical effect is a more mandatory passport-revocation tool for child-support enforcement while preserving emergency travel home.

Who Benefits and How

Children owed child support benefit if stronger passport revocation increases payment leverage. Custodial parents benefit from a clearer enforcement tool when arrears exceed $2,500. State child-support enforcement agencies benefit because passport revocation can reinforce collection efforts. The State Department benefits from clearer authority to revoke rather than restrict or limit passports. Individuals abroad with arrears benefit from a narrow emergency temporary passport path to return to the United States.

Who Bears the Burden and How

Noncustodial parents owing more than $2,500 in child support face mandatory passport revocation after notice. State Department passport staff must issue notices, process revocations, and handle emergency temporary passports. HHS child-support enforcement staff must coordinate certifications under section 452(k). State child-support agencies must maintain arrears records and certification workflows. Travelers with certified arrears may lose ordinary international travel options until arrears are resolved.

Key Provisions

• Modifies section 452(k) to remove passport restriction or limitation as alternatives.
• Requires revocation authority for individuals with child-support arrearages above $2,500.
• Requires notice of intent before passport revocation.
• Provides temporary emergency passports for return to the United States.
• Limits emergency temporary passports to the return trip.
• Provides an October 1, 2026 effective date in the reported version.