I am writing to urge you, as my Senator, to fight hunger and poverty by swiftly taking up and passing the Tax Relief for Americans Act, and rejecting any amendments that could weaken or limit the impact of the Child Tax Credit (CTC). The bill, which passed in the House with broad bipartisan support (357-70), includes improvements to the CTC that would lift hundreds of thousands of children and their families above the poverty line, and benefit 16 million of the 19 million children currently locked out of receiving the full or any credit.
The refundable child tax credit is vital to helping families in our community and the state put food on the table. I support this policy as does the overwhelming percentage of voters — polling by Hart Research Associates found that “82% of voters favor a Child Tax Credit that is fully available for all low- and middle-income families.”
In 2021, tens of millions of families with children received an expanded CTC, resulting in dramatic reductions in hunger and poverty. After the end of the expanded CTC and other COVID-19 pandemic relief efforts, hunger and child poverty skyrocketed.
I urge you to support the bill’s CTC improvements and vote “yes” when the bill reaches the Senate floor. Also, reject any amendments that could weaken or limit the impact the CTC would have for families struggling against hunger and poverty. This improved CTC will help families – including in our state – who are struggling to pay for food, housing, child care, and other essentials, and will benefit 16 million of the 19 million children who are currently left out of receiving the full or any refundable tax credit.
