The Senate must pass the BBB now and KEEP the Child Tax Credit!

Now that the House has passed the Build Back Better Act, it is time for the Senate to take this up and pass it before the recess. The Build Back Better Act is transformative legislation for our nation making major investments including the Child Tax and Earned Income Tax Credits, paid leave, home and community-based services and child care, affordable housing, climate action, environmental justice, universal pre-kindergarten and college assistance, relief for immigrants, and lowering the cost of prescription drugs. The last expanded monthly Child Tax Credit payment arrives December 15 and must be extended before the end of the year to give families the certainty that the payments will keep coming. The IRS has reportedly stated that Congress must act no later than December 28 to ensure January’s payments will go out on time to tens of millions of families. If the bill does not pass by the end of the year, we risk throwing nearly 10 million children back below the poverty line or deeper into poverty in 2022. Overall, 65 million children will lose out unless Congress acts with urgency. Passing the Build Back Better Act provides a historic opportunity to reduce childhood poverty and continue support to the most vulnerable children, particularly in Black and Latino families. This legislation also makes the most significant investments in climate and environmental justice in history and makes transformative improvements in our nation's care infrastructure. When the Build Back Better Act reaches the Senate floor, we strongly urge Senators to reject all amendments including those that would weaken the racial equity impacts of the Child Tax Credit. The Senate must not recess until this critical legislation is passed. Thanks.