John,

Low-income workers with wage fluctuations should not be used as political pawns. But it is pretty clear that some policymakers are looking for excuses to delay important tax policy changes for their own political benefit.

They want to deny President Biden a policy victory on the expanded Child Tax Credit this year and push this tax package to next year, perhaps hoping they can add more corporate breaks and/or weaken the CTC in the next Congress.

These lawmakers are completely out of touch with the needs of low-income and working families who are struggling to afford basic needs.

In 2021, in the one year that the fully expanded Child Tax Credit was in effect, most low-income families spent their CTC on basic necessities like food, utilities, and rent or mortgage payments, as well as education expenses―and families need that help now.

Click here to write to your U.S. Senators and urge them to pass the expanded Child Tax Credit that was passed in the House with a bipartisan vote of 357-70.

Together, we’re demanding Congress stop playing politics with the lives of millions of low-income and working families.

Meredith Dodson
Senior Director of Public Policy, Coalition on Human Needs

-- DEBORAH'S EMAIL --

John,

Cynical Senators are playing politics with the Child Tax Credit―and with the lives of millions of families with young children.

Some members of the Senate are lining up to block a tax package that will benefit 16 million children in lower-income families via an expanded CTC, despite a broad bipartisan House vote. Why? For some, the answer is simple: pure politics.

Expanding the Child Tax Credit is popular and is proven to dramatically reduce child poverty levels. So why are some members of the Senate trying so hard to stop the Senate from moving forward on this bipartisan package, and kill the CTC with poison pill amendments? Maybe because they think they can get a bill with more corporate tax breaks and a weaker CTC in the next Congress. Or maybe they don’t want to hand President Biden a legislative victory on an issue he has consistently championed. Whatever the reason, they are denying low-income families with children a bigger refund check as the deadline for filing taxes approaches.

Write to your Senators and urge them to stop playing politics with a critical tax credit for low-income families. Tell them to pass the expanded Child Tax Credit now!

While the expanded Child Tax Credit included in the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act is temporary and not as robust as the one passed in 2021, it would still lift 400,000 children out of poverty in tax year 2023, rising to 500,000 above the poverty line in 2025.¹ It would also add much needed income to about 16 million children in families struggling to meet basic needs.²

The House passed the bill overwhelmingly weeks ago. The time for the Senate to act is now.

Write to your Senators and urge them to pass the expanded Child Tax Credit. Children and families need help now!

Thank you for all you do,

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

¹ Reported Proposal to Expand Child Tax Credit Would Lift as Many as 400,000 Children Above the Poverty Line
² About 16 Million Children in Low-Income Families Would Gain in First Year of Bipartisan Child Tax Credit Expansion