The bill amends the Social Security Act to allow revocation of passports for individuals owing over $2,500 in child support. The revocation will be without restriction and the individual will be notified before the action is taken. An exception allows a temporary passport for emergency return to the US. The amendments take effect on October 1, 2026. This bill will impact individuals with child support arrears, potentially affecting their ability to travel internationally.
Ensuring Children Receive Support Act
This bill specifies that the Department of State must revoke passports for certain individuals who fail to make child support payments.
Under current law, if the Office of Child Support Enforcement of the Department of Health and Human Services receives information from a state that an individual owes more than $2,500 in child support, the State Department must refuse to issue the individual a passport and may revoke a previously issued passport. The bill specifies that the State Department must revoke a previously issued passport in these circumstances.
The bill also provides statutory authority for the State Department to allow such an individual to be issued a limited-duration passport for direct return to the United States.
For more information about this bill, see CRS Insight IN12660.
