HR 2503 105th Congress House

Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1997

Official title: To establish felony violations for the failure to pay legal child support obligations, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 4, 1997 Introduced by: Hoyer, Steny H. Democratic · Maryland See on congress.gov

Crime and Law Enforcement Abandonment of familyChild supportChild support enforcementCompensation for victims of crime

More subjectsShow fewer subjects

Evidence (Law)FamiliesFines (Penalties)Fugitives from justiceInterstate commerceLawRecidivistsSentences (Criminal procedure)Social WelfareTransportation and Public Works

Everywhere this bill has been 5 steps

Introduced

In committee

Reported out

Passed House

Passed Senate

To President

Became law

Apr 1, 1998

For Further Action See H.R.2925.

Sep 24, 1997

Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime.

Sep 18, 1997

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Sep 18, 1997

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

Sep 18, 1997

Introduced in House

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Latest action April 1, 1998

For Further Action See H.R.2925.

Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

Related & companion bills 2

Bill text 1 version

Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

Committees of jurisdiction 2

Crime and Federal Government Surveillance Subcommittee
House of Representatives · subcommittee of Judiciary Committee
Judiciary Committee
House of Representatives

Cosponsors 12

DEUTSCH, PETER

· Nov 13, 1997

Graham, Lindsey

South Carolina · Nov 7, 1997

Schumer, Charles E.

New York · Nov 5, 1997

MCCARTHY, KAREN

· Nov 4, 1997

McGovern, James P.

Massachusetts · Nov 4, 1997

DeLauro, Rosa L.

Connecticut · Oct 30, 1997

Thompson, Bennie G.

Mississippi · Oct 28, 1997

SANDLIN, MAX

· Oct 23, 1997

Pelosi, Nancy

California · Oct 21, 1997

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APA

U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2503: Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1997. 105th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2503/

MLA

"H.R. 2503: Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1997." 105th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2503/.

Bluebook (legal)

H.R. 2503, 105th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2503/.

Markdown link

[H.R. 2503: Deadbeat Parents Punishment Act of 1997](https://openamerica.io/bill/105-HR-2503/)