UpTogether CEO Jesús Gerena issued the following statement:
I have been heartened to see Child Tax Credit proposals take center stage in the presidential campaign.
The expanded Child Tax Credit enacted during the pandemic proved that direct, recurring cash initiatives are meaningful financial lifelines for families facing financial hardship. Families received $3,600 per child under 6 years old and $3,000 for each child aged 6 to 17. Payments were made on a monthly basis and impacted more than 60 million children. Child poverty fell by nearly half.
When this provision expired in 2022, those monumental gains were reversed, and things have gotten worse. Census data released this week shows that child poverty has increased 1.3% from 2022 to 2023. Two years after the expanded Child Tax Credit expired, the child poverty rate stands at 13.7%. This is an unacceptable policy choice, especially since we know what works to make things better.
That’s why it was encouraging to see the Child Tax Credit as a topic early in the debate. Each campaign has its own proposal. Kamala Harris would provide a $6,000 benefit for families with newborns, and has expressed support for returning to the pandemic-level credit. Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, has suggested a $5,000 tax credit per child.
UpTogether encourages both candidates to support a Child Tax Credit at least at the pandemic-level, and to make the payments recurring. We do not support work requirements that would leave many struggling families behind.
This is about our values as a country, and we should move quickly to meaningfully impact the lives of children. There is great urgency to pass an expanded Child Tax Credit, providing immediate economic relief for millions of American families. It’s my hope that the next president pledges to take action on moving an expanded child tax credit proposal through Congress within the first 100 days of their new administration. Thriving families and communities are key to America’s future. We must invest in our greatest resource – our people.