Today, in a new op-ed from ELLE, American Bridge 21st Century Co-Chair Cecile Richards hammered Republicans for blocking the extension of President Biden’s Child Tax Credit, which has not only significantly cut child poverty and child hunger, but also “helped parents get back to work – boosting our economy and helping us recover from the pandemic.”
As highlighted by Ms. Richards, the historic American Rescue Plan helped millions of middle-class families “put food on the table for their kids, pay for child care, and get back to work” but now “due to the Republican senators’ refusal to work with President Biden to continue this support, all of that progress is in jeopardy.”
ELLE: The End Of The Expanded Child Tax Credit Is Dire For Women And Families
By: Cecile Richards | January 14th, 2022
Key Points:
- “It wasn’t until President Biden was sworn into office that women began to see relief. Biden’s historic American Rescue Plan, which Democrats passed without a single Republican vote, included an extended Child Tax Credit (CTC). This tax cut meant that parents would receive $3,600 per child for children under the age of six and $3,000 per child for older children.”
- “Moms across the country have shared stories about how the expanded CTC has helped them put food on the table for their kids, pay for child care, and get back to work. At American Bridge 21st Century, we met Naomi, a mom of three and home care worker who is in school studying to become a nurse. When the pandemic hit, Naomi had no idea how she was going of care for her kids, work, attend online classes, and keep her family safe. The expanded CTC was a game changer for Naomi and millions of moms just like her.”
- “And now, even while the Omicron variant is surging, Republicans oppose expanding the CTC into 2022 as part of the president’s Build Back Better agenda—simply for the reason that they don’t want to help deliver a Biden win. As a result of these partisan games, this month families will not receive the CTC for the first time since July 2021.”
- “We know that when middle-class women and families succeed, America succeeds. Passing life-changing tax cuts and helping millions of parents get back to work shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Unfortunately, Republicans have made it one. Every single Republican voted against the American Rescue Plan.”
- “Despite calls for leaders to put partisanship aside and support women and middle-class families, Republicans are refusing to work across the aisle to pass President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda. The president’s agenda includes more tax cuts for middle-class families and expands the CTC into 2022 so more parents have the support they need to get back to work and provide for their families.”
- “Instead of middle-class families, Republicans are working for America’s richest billionaire corporate CEOs, who benefited from our misfortune during the heat of the pandemic.”
- “If Republicans really want to grow our economy and protect their constituents, they’ll work across the aisle to provide more support for women and families everywhere. If not, they’ll have to answer to millions of voters in the midterm elections for their inaction. We’ll make sure of it.”
Read the full op-ed here.
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Published: Jan 14, 2022 | Last Modified: Jan 25, 2022