FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 14, 2007

Stephanie Niedringhaus (NETWORK) 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

Catholic Advocacy Group Joins Coalition To Restore Child Support Funding

$11 Billion Budget Cut Threatens Children, Families Nationwide

Washington, DC -- NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, has joined a coalition of child support advocates to lobby for federal legislation that would repeal cuts in child support enforcement funding that took effect on October 1.

Part of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, the cuts are estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to decrease child support collections by $11 billion over the next ten years.

“These cuts will adversely impact millions of low-income children,” said Simone Campbell, SSS, Executive Director. “NETWORK is committed to preserving this funding to ensure that children receive the support they need.”

NETWORK was one of 500 groups to sign a recent letter urging Congress to support funding restoration through the Child Support Protection Act of 2007, which enjoys bipartisan support in the U.S. House and Senate.

NETWORK is a national Catholic advocacy group of more than 10,000 individual and organizational members nationwide.

“Catholic Social Teaching instructs us to demonstrate a preferential choice for the poor, yet the cuts to child support do exactly the opposite, disproportionately affecting families who are poor. NETWORK supports the Child Support Protection Act as a means of strengthening single-parent families by increasing the financial and emotional support of non-custodial parents for these vulnerable children,” added Sister Campbell.

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NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, educates, organizes and lobbies for economic and social transformation. Founded in 1971 by 47 Catholic sisters, NETWORK is supported by thousands of groups and individuals committed to working for social and economic justice. For more information, see www.networklobby.org.