John,

Child Tax Credits are critical, and they have played an unmistakable role in dramatically reducing childhood poverty in the U.S. Today, on Veterans Day, we’re recognizing the importance that the Child Tax Credit provides to veterans and active service families—and how we must extend that important legacy.

According to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, "Some 5 million children with veteran or active-duty parents are eligible for a new or bigger Child Tax Credit this year thanks to the American Rescue Plan’s expansions of the credit, but they—along with tens of millions of other children—will lose out after this year unless Congress extends those Rescue Plan provisions."[1]

John, we need to keep fighting to ensure the Child Tax Credit in the Build Back Better investment agenda is as strong as possible and reaches the most vulnerable children and families, including the families of our veterans. Can you take 1 minute and send a message to your representative and senators to make sure they understand how important this fight is and the impact it will have on our veterans?

The expanded Child Tax Credit is currently being distributed each month to families across the country because of legislation proposed by President Biden and enacted earlier this year by our champions in Congress. This has resulted in about 2.6 million veteran or active-duty families with 5 million children being either newly eligible for the credit or eligible for a larger credit.

The House Build Back Better investment bill would extend the Rescue Plan’s increased CTC benefit for another year. And of utmost importance, it makes full CTC benefits for the poorest families permanent—guaranteeing help where it’s needed most.

It is important to understand that, back in 2017, the Trump-McConnell tax plan passed by Republicans in Congress stripped the Child Tax Credit support from children in families that recently emigrated to the U.S.

The CTC expansion headed for a House vote next week reverses that. And we need to make sure that Build Back Better passes with this expansion intact.

We’re demanding Congress reject any additional cuts to the Build Back Better Act, including by adding regressive policies such as work requirements that hurt the poorest families, people with disabilities, and caregivers including grandparents.

Join with CHN to demand Congress pass the Build Back Better legislation with the strongest Child Tax Credit provisions possible. We need to take care of the families of our veterans. And this is one very effective way to do that. On behalf of our veterans, send a letter to Congress today!

Thank you for all you do to demand accountability from our political leaders and to fight for the needs of the vulnerable, the sick and the poor.

Deborah Weinstein
Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs

[1] https://www.cbpp.org/research/federal-tax/5-million-children-in-veteran-and-active-duty-families-will-lose-out-if-child