Senate vote will identify “who’s for kids and who’s just kidding”

Tomorrow’s vote could end CTC penalties that “double-punish” children

The vote on the Child Tax Credit package, expected in the Senate tomorrow, will put lawmakers on the record about supporting children and families.

The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act (H.R. 7024) makes significant improvements to the Child Tax Credit that could lift 400,000 children out of poverty in just the first year. The House of Representatives passed the bipartisan bill by an overwhelming 357-70 majority in January. Since then, the bill has languished in the Senate where some lawmakers have cited a reluctance to pass legislation that would reflect well on the current Administration.

The Senate expects to vote Thursday on whether to bring the House bill to the floor.

“Tomorrow’s vote will point to who’s for kids and who’s just kidding,” said First Focus Campaign for Children President Bruce Lesley. “H.R. 7024 passed the House with an overwhelming bipartisan vote because the bill mitigates baby and child penalties that wrongly and unfairly punish children by cutting their Child Tax Credit if family income drops. These penalties double-punish children for life’s uncertainties and for circumstances beyond their control, like drops in income due to the birth of a child, the death or illness of a parent, natural disasters, a parent’s reduced work hours to care for a child or parent, or the loss of a job due to business closures or layoffs. This must end. While the bill does not give children everything they need, it would significantly improve the health and well-being of 16 million under-resourced children who are being left behind by the current Child Tax Credit.”

First Focus Campaign for Children is a bipartisan advocacy organization dedicated to making children and families a priority in federal policy and budget decisions.