National Council of Child Support Directors

Dear Senator Cornyn:

As President of the National Council of Child Support Directors (NCCSD) I am writing to express our appreciation for your efforts to address the needs of children in America. NCCSD would like to share with you a number of positions regarding the various bills that make up the TANF reauthorization currently under review by the Senate.

A matrix is attached that states the positions of the NCCSD for each proposal that is currently pending in the House or Senate, or that may soon be introduced. The matrix includes older positions by NCCSD in reference to S. 669, the Child Support Distribution Act of 2003, as well as newer positions for subsequent provisions. For the newer positions we have attached papers with more specific explanations.

NCSSD strongly supports several new provisions. We support the:

* Garnishment of Veteran's Disability Benefits,

* Expansion of the interception of IRS tax refunds for past due support owed to non-welfare adult children,

* Interception of gaming winnings,

* Electronic disbursement of child support payments,

* Expansion of state payment distribution units to include processing of pre-1994 wage withholding payments,

* Processing on automated systems interstate state to state requests for assistance to make use of automated enforcement remedies,

* Matching of insurance payout data with a list of child support non-payers,

* State option to allow an opt out process for new customers in lieu of application and,

* Increase in Access and Visitation grants.

NCCSD, with caution, supports:

* Strengthening the Multi-State Financial Institutions Data Match. This remedy is an important enforcement tool that can and should be improved. NCCSD suggests that the pending legislation receive further review, and that in the interim, OCSE, in consultation with the states, develop and implement an expanded MSFIDM program designed to improve the effectiveness of the program.

We have also included a reaffirmation and restatement of our support for the:

* Right to disclose the source of payments obtained from IRS tax intercepts. This is a long overdue critical and logical operational need for IV-D agencies to share this information with Courts, confidential contractual agencies, and Tribes.

Although NCCSD has not prepared a position specifically favoring the maintenance of funding for:

* Technical Assistance, and

* Federal Parent Locator Service

NCCSD recognizes the need to maintain these beneficial and successful programs.

Again, thank you for your support for children. Please contact me at (503) 986-6083 or cindi.chinnock@state.or.us if you have any questions, or would like to have a more in-depth discussion of our positions.

Sincerely,