Federal Child Tax Credit Expansion Will Lift Babies and Families Out of Poverty
More than 3 million children would be made less poor in year one of the proposal
Contact: Gina Davis
(202) 864-2934
gdavis@zerotothree.org
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Miriam Calderón, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE, issued the following statement in response to reports that congressional negotiators have reached a deal to expand the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC).
“Poverty hurts babies’ development during the most critical early years of rapid brain growth, leading to developmental gaps that carry significantly troubling implications including for their long-term success in school and as adults. The proposal put forward by the Senate Finance and House Ways and Means Committees to expand the Child Tax Credit will help reduce financial instability for many babies, and their parents, ensuring children have the resources to dream big and live healthy, stable lives.
“ZERO TO THREE welcomes any advance for economically insecure families, but a large proportion of babies in America, especially Black, Latine and Native American babies, continue to live with low income and startling numbers of babies live in deep poverty. The federal CTC should not exclude immigrant families who file taxes with Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs) as we seek to raise more young children out of poverty. We implore Congressional leaders to continue working toward a true child-centered tax credit that reaches all children.”
Learn more about the Enhanced, Fully Refundable Child Tax Credit.
