U.S. Rep. Ron Estes (R-KS) on July 22 cosponsored the bipartisan Providing Adequate Resources to Enhance Needed Time with Sons and Daughters (PARENTS) Act to strengthen relationships between parents and children.
Rep. Estes introduced H.R. 7725 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-WI) to allow states to use incentive payments available under the Child Support Enforcement (CSE) Program to improve parent-child relationships, increase child support collections, and improve outcomes for children by supporting parenting time agreements for noncustodial parents in uncontested agreements, according to the congressional record bill summary.
Specifically, H.R. 7725 is designed to address the disparity in accessing parenting time agreements for never-married parents, increasing the collection of child support funds, and supporting relationships between parents and their children, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Estes’ office.
“The time spent between parents and their children is critical at all stages of life, but especially in the early years as their minds and personalities are forming,” Rep. Estes said. “Reducing the financial burdens of establishing [parenting time agreements] for unmarried parents is a way to encourage and enhance the bonds between the child, mother and father right from the start.”
The congressman noted that “this strengthened time commitment from both parents will set up a positive trajectory as the child grows into adulthood.”
H.R. 7725 has been referred to the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee for consideration.