A Republican bill with 9 Republican cosponsors · See all 9 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
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
This bill, titled the Unborn Child Support Act,'' seeks to amend the Social Security Act. It aims to ensure that child support for unborn children is collected and distributed through the existing child support enforcement program. The legislation would require States to establish and enforce support obligations of a biological father to the mother of an unborn child. These obligations can begin from the month of conception as determined by a physician. The bill also defines an unborn child'' as a member of the species homo sapiens at any stage of development carried in the womb.
Yes· 3 of 4
- Scored +5
Would women be better off under this?
The bill empowers mothers to request and receive child support obligations that can begin from the month of conception.
- Scored +4
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
It expands the scope of child support enforcement which can provide essential funds for low-income mothers.
- Scored +4
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?
The bill seeks to increase financial support for mothers by allowing child support obligations to begin at conception.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Support for Mothers: The bill allows the State to establish and enforce child support obligations of a biological father to the mother of an unborn child (Section 2(a)(4)).
-
Timely Financial Obligations: Support obligations may begin as early as the first month the child was conceived, according to a physician (Section 2(a)(4)(B)).
-
Retroactive Collection: Payments for these obligations may be collected or awarded retroactively, even if paternity is established after the child is born (Section 2(a)(4)(C)).
-
Mother's Input in Financials: The payment amount is to be determined by a court in consultation with the mother (Section 2(a)(4)(D)).
-
Protection of Mother's Consent: Any measure to establish paternity is not required without the mother's consent (Section 2(a)(4)(E)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Potential Risk to Unborn Children: The bill notes that a measure to establish paternity should not be taken if it poses any risk of harm to the child if unborn (Section 2(a)(4)(F)).
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 obligations that can begin from the month of conception. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — It expands the scope of child support enforcement which can provide essential funds for low-income mothers. Would children be better off under this? — The bill provides a mechanism to secure financial support for children starting from the point of conception.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — The bill seeks to increase financial support for mothers by allowing child support obligations to begin at conception.
- 1/23/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 9 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
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.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Jim BanksRepublican · Indiana
Katie BrittRepublican · Alabama
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
John HoevenRepublican · North Dakota
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas
Roger WickerRepublican · Mississippi