WASHINGTON, D.C. – Over the weekend, H.R. 9076 was signed into law, which included Representative Kevin Hern’s (OK-01) priorities surrounding child support enforcement and tribal child welfare as part of a larger legislative package.
“This law protects child support for 13 million families, levels the playing field for Tribes, and saves taxpayers $777 million,” said Rep. Hern. “It’s a win for families who depend on this program, and I’m proud to see it signed into law.”
The bill reduces the regulatory burden on states by ensuring they can continue using contractors for the Child Support Enforcement program, preventing disruptions that would affect 13 million families.
Additionally, H.R. 9076 includes the Tribal Child Welfare Support Act, which modernizes funding structures by providing direct Title IV-B child welfare funding to Indian tribes without cutting state funds. Child welfare funding for Indian tribes under Title IV-B of the Social Security Act is currently separated into two funding allocations, one of which goes through states rather than directly to tribal grantees.
You can read the full text of the bill here.
“I wish this would have been available back, you know, when I was growing up,” Congressman Hern was quoted as saying as reported by News On 6, “I had a stepdad that wouldn’t pay for child support.”
You can watch Hern’s response to the bill passing into law here:
