Good afternoon and happy Mardi Gras,
The Super Bowl - the American cultural event that serves as a richly textured intersection of football fans, music lovers, celebrity spotters, and avid ad-watchers - cannot go unmentioned. For viewers who miss new episodes of "<a href="[link removed]">Succession</a>", RFK, Jr. delivered an ad so cringe he made <a href="[link removed]">Connor Roy</a> look like a serious presidential candidate. Luckily what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, so now that it's been mentioned, we can shift our focus away from Allegiant Stadium and back to the political arena.
Much like in football, Congressional action can involve much head-butting between two parties, dramatic plays, and <a href="[link removed]">overtime</a> <a href="[link removed]">resolutions</a>. (Let's remember that what makes for <a href="[link removed]">good TV</a> often does not make for good governing!)
Unlike football, one party in Congress seems notably <a href="[link removed]">disinterested</a> in getting things to the end zone. After months of negotiations, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), finally managed to introduce <a href="[link removed]">Families First</a> - sorry, I meant the <a href="[link removed]">bipartisan border bill</a> - which would have been the strictest immigration reform in recent history, only to <a href="[link removed]">kill it himself</a> before it could crawl off the Senate floor. The flip-flop came thanks to <a href="[link removed]">former President Donald Trump</a>, who, in his re-election campaign, is loath to allow any positive changes to Americans' lives under President Joe Biden. In theory, tanking their own bill will ensure that border issues remain a good talking point for Republicans in the 2024 elections.
Trump's influence over Republicans in Congress is <a href="[link removed]">expanding</a>. His endorsement, however, is not exactly a signal of <a href="[link removed]">future success in elections</a>. For now, though, Republicans can say that they are <a href="[link removed]">victorious in defeat</a> - we'll see if defeat is as appealing when November rolls around.
CHILD TAX CREDIT CHANGES
Still in motion, thankfully is the <a href="[link removed]">child tax credit</a>. At the end of January, it <a href="[link removed]">passed</a> 357-70 with rare broad bipartisan support in the House.
The CTC was expanded during the pandemic and lifted <a href="[link removed]">millions of children out of poverty</a>. Since its expiration over two years ago, family advocates and lawmakers have pushed for a new expansion that addresses flaws in the design of the current CTC, which left many Black and Hispanic children, children of single parents, in larger families, and living in rural areas <a href="[link removed]">ineligible</a> for the benefits.
As the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 currently stands, the new CTC expansion would lift <a href="[link removed]">over 400,000 children</a> out of poverty and reduce child poverty for another 3 million in the first year alone.
The CTC expansion would be of particular benefit to <a href="[link removed]">rural families</a>, whose working parents receive <a href="[link removed]">pay</a> that is roughly 19 lower than their urban counterparts', and even more helpful for <a href="[link removed]">rural families of color</a>.
Now, the bill is with the Senate. There's some <a href="[link removed]">concern</a> among Senate Republicans about Senate Finance Committee ranking member Mike Crapo's (R-Idaho) lack of input, about handing President Biden a win in an election year, and the usual dysfunction, but our nation's children <a href="[link removed]">don't have time to wait</a>. Working families need to see relief now.
ICYMI
Axios: <a href="[link removed]">Most of Virginia's rural hospitals don't offer labor and delivery services</a>
The Washington Post: <a href="[link removed]">Medicaid's prescription for health includes food and housing in some states</a>
ABC: <a href="[link removed]">Nebraska governor reverses course and says state will take federal funding to feed children</a>
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