Overdue Steps for Women

It could have been election-year politics. Or maybe it was a case of male guilt. Whatever the reason, Congress last week unanimously approved measures to redress long-ignored economic injustices borne mostly by women.

One bill provides tough new methods to collect child support from delinquent divorced parents. Less than half of the 5 million families who are owed support payments ever receive the full amount; a quarter never see a dime. Now deadbeats will have a portion of their salaries withheld or their property attached. Child-support debts will be reported to credit agencies, and the IRS will deduct past-due payments from tax refunds.

The other bill guarantees pensions for homemakers whose employed spouses die before retirement age and lets working mothers keep their retirement-plan credits if they leave their jobs to raise families. The pension measure was introduced three years ago by Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro. President Reagan is expected to sign both bills into law this week.