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United States · Bill · HR

H.R. 2503 (105th)

Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1997

openUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

18 September 1997

Last action

1 April 1998 · Committee

Status

For Further Action See H.R.2925.

Sponsors

Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Hyde, Henry J. [R-IL-6], Rep. Frost, Martin [D-TX-24], Rep. Wexler, Robert [D-FL-19], Rep. Evans, Lane [D-IL-17], Rep. Foley, Mark [R-FL-16], Rep. Poshard, Glenn [D-IL-22], Rep. Ackerman, Gary L. [D-NY-5], Rep. Martinez, Matthew G. [D-CA-31], Rep. Davis, Tom [R-VA-11], Rep. Baldacci, John Elias [D-ME-2], Rep. Lowey, Nita M. [D-NY-17], Rep. Kilpatrick, Carolyn C. [D-MI-13], Rep. Lipinski, William O. [D-IL-3], Rep. McIntyre, Mike [D-NC-7], Rep. Gutierrez, Luis V. [D-IL-4], Rep. Lampson, Nick [D-TX-22], Rep. Meehan, Martin T. [D-MA-5], Rep. Olver, John W. [D-MA-1], Rep. Rivers, Lynn N. [D-MI-13], Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-11], Rep. Lantos, Tom [D-CA-12], Rep. Furse, Elizabeth [D-OR-1], Rep. Costello, Jerry F. [D-IL-12], Rep. Frank, Barney [D-MA-4], Rep. Sandlin, Max [D-TX-1], Rep. Johnson, Eddie Bernice [D-TX-30], Rep. Manton, Thomas J. [D-NY-7], Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2], Rep. Clement, Bob [D-TN-5], Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2], Rep. Kelly, Sue W. [R-NY-19], Rep. Hastings, Alcee L. [D-FL-20], Rep. McCarthy, Karen [D-MO-5], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Rep. Conyers, John, Jr. [D-MI-13], Rep. Weygand, Robert A. [D-RI-2], Rep. Deutsch, Peter [D-FL-20]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

21 August 2025

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Summary

Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1997 - Amends Federal criminal code provisions regarding failure to pay legal child support obligations to create two new categories of felony offenses, subject to a two-year maximum prison term: (1) traveling in interstate or foreign commerce with intent to evade a support obligation if the obligation has remained unpaid for a period longer than one year or is greater than $5,000; and (2) willfully failing to pay a support obligation regarding a child residing in another State, if the obligation has remained unpaid for a period longer than two years or is greater than $10,000. Specifies that the existence of a support obligation that was in effect for the time period charged in the indictment or information creates a rebuttable presumption that the obligor has the ability to pay such obligation for that period. Directs the court, upon a conviction, to order restitution in an amount equal to the total unpaid support obligation as it exists at the time of sentencing.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 18 September 1997

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 18 September 1997

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H7591-7592)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 18 September 1997

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 18 September 1997

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 24 September 1997

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

    Source: Committee

  6. 1 April 1998

    Committee

    For Further Action See H.R.2925.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

Documents

3 official files

Introduced in House (text)

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  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 18 September 1997

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  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 18 September 1997

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  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 18 September 1997

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Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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