University Daily Kansan, September 16, 1983 Page 11
Heckler testifies for stronger child support laws
Bv United Press International
WASHINGTON — Health and Human Services Secretary Margaret Heckler urged Congress yesterday to enact tough new laws that would stop parents from cheating their children out of $4 billion a year in child support.
"That is both a national disgrace and it is a tragedy." Heckler said in testimony before a Senate Finance subcommittee.
She asked the subcommittee on Social Security and income maintenance programs to endorse no-cost legislation that would require states to dock parents' paychecks to collect back payments. States also would be required to make deductions from state income tax refunds in welfare cases
and would be encouraged to make the deductions in cases not involving welfare families.
THE LEGISLATION ALSO would reward states that increase collection of payments from absent parents.
The bill would reduce the sum the federal government gives states for child support enforcement programs by $200 million and pool that money to be used to reward states that do a good job in protecting children from violence to encourage states to step up their efforts to locate parents who have crossed state lines to avoid paying.
Heckler quoted government statistics showing nearly one-third of the 4 million American women legally owned childcare providers. More than half receive only some of the
amount they are legally entitled to, she said.
"It is unfortunate that the ideal of all parents supporting their children is a dream and not a reality in America," Heckler said, adding that the children are being "cheated out of nearly $4 billion a year."
Current efforts at child support enforcement are weak and outdated, she said. She cited a report released earlier this year by Congress. General Gov. John Kasich called the government for offering the states little incentive to improve collections.
IF CONGRESS FAILS to act now,
thousands of new cases of child support
delinquency will be reported this year
to more children will suffer. Heckler said.
"Frankly, it offends my conscience because I believe . . . that a parent's first responsibility is to reasonably provide for the upbringing and welfare of his or her children," she said. "To deny that responsibility is a cowardly act."
The administration's work on behalf of the bill coincides with President Reagan's efforts to fight the "gender gap" reflected in public opinion polls that have shown his support lagging among women.
"For too long, proposals to help women and children have been after thoughts in the legislative process." Heckler said. "I think this legislation and the hearings you are holding are strong evidence that times have changed."
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