PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Jul 14, 1999
Responsible Fatherhood Act of 1999 - Title: I Public Awareness and Community Involvement In Fatherhood Issues - Amends part D (Child Support and Establishment of Paternity) of title IV of the Social Security Act (SSA) to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to award grants to States and territories to: (1) develop and carry out media campaigns promoting the formation and maintenance of married two-parent families, strengthen fragile families, and promote responsible fatherhood; and (2) obtain donations of media access necessary for such campaigns.Requires the Secretary to contract with a fatherhood promotion organization (meeting certain requirements) to: (1) develop and distribute a media campaign to interested States, local governments, public agencies, and private nonprofit organizations; and (2) develop a national clearinghouse to assist States and communities to promote and support responsible fatherhood by making available to other States information regarding media campaigns and programs instituted by States using grant funds under this Act. Authorizes appropriations.Amends SSA title IV part A (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) (TANF) to mandate block grants to States to provide support to responsible fatherhood efforts of local governments, public agencies, and private nonprofit organizations. Authorizes appropriations.Title II: Removal of Burdensome Federal Restrictions - Amends SSA title IV part A with regard to TANF grant recipient requirements, custodial and non-custodial parent requirements, in-kind donations, additional use of TANF funds, and a TANF bonus to reward a State's effort to encourage the formulation and maintenance of two-parent families.Amends SSA title IV part D to give States various specified options to: (1) pass through directly to the family a portion of child support collected, including amounts collected pursuant to a continued assignment; (2) disregard child support received in determining a family's eligibility for, or amount of, TANF assistance; and (3) use amounts collected by a State as child support, and otherwise payable to the Federal Government, to provide fatherhood services (especially to low income non-custodia fathers) encouraging the appropriate involvement of both parents in the life of any of their children.
People & committees
Sen. Bayh, Evan [D-IN] · D–IN
Legislative record
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Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8507)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 20, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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