A Republican bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "Unborn Child Support Act" seeks to amend the Social Security Act to include child support enforcement for unborn children. This bill would require states to establish and enforce child support obligations of a biological father for an unborn child. Under this provision, the support start date could begin with the month of conception as determined by a physician. The bill also outlines that paternity establishment requires the mother's consent and must not pose a risk of harm to the unborn child. These changes to the child support enforcement program would take effect two years after the act is enacted.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +6
Would women be better off under this?
The bill empowers mothers to request and receive child support that can begin from the month of conception.
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
The bill aims to secure financial support for children by starting obligations at the time of conception.
- Scored +5
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The expansion of child support enforcement may increase available financial resources for low-income households.
The opposite
- Scored -5
Would men be better off under this?
The bill creates new potential financial obligations for biological fathers that can begin at the time of conception.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Financial Support for Mothers: The bill allows for the establishment and enforcement of child support obligations of the biological father to the mother (Section 2(a)(4)).
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Retroactive Payment Ability: Payments for obligations may be retroactively collected or awarded, which can include cases where paternity is established after the child is born (Section 2(a)(4)(C)).
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Flexibility in Support Start Dates: The start date for support obligations may begin with the first month the child was conceived, as determined by a physician (Section 2(a)(4)(B)).
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Protections for Maternal Consent and Safety: Any measure to establish paternity requires the consent of the mother (Section 2(a)(4)(E)) and shall not be taken if it poses a risk of harm to the child while unborn (Section 2(a)(4)(F)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Legal and Financial Obligations for Fathers: The bill requires states to establish and enforce child support obligations for the biological father of an unborn child (Section 2(a)(4)).
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Court-Determined Payment Amounts: The amount of payment for these obligations is determined by a court in consultation with the mother (Section 2(a)(4)(D)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill empowers mothers to request and receive child support that can begin from the month of conception. Would children be better off under this? — The bill aims to secure financial support for children by starting obligations at the time of conception. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The expansion of child support enforcement may increase available financial resources for low-income households. Would men be better off under this? — The bill creates new potential financial obligations for biological fathers that can begin at the time of conception.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this strengthen Social Security? — The bill amends the Social Security Act to expand child support enforcement to include unborn children. Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — By expanding the window for child support collection to the time of conception, more financial support may be available to families.
- 5/8/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 2/6/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
- Introduced in House
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Riley MooreRepublican · West Virginia