Urge Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit

As child poverty grows, lawmakers must prioritize tax relief for low-income families.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Washington, D.C. are pushing for an expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC), with hopes that it will be included in a wider tax package by the end of this year. An expanded version of the Child Tax Credit helped cut child poverty nearly in half over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, but those gains have largely been lost since the expansion expired at the end of 2021.

Emerging statistics and stories of ministry unveil alarming experiences. New data from the Department of Agriculture suggests that 3.5 million families fell into food insecurity from 2021 to 2022 – raising the total to more than 44 million people nationwide. Congregations, Lutheran hunger leaders and food pantries from many synods tell of volunteer exhaustion, increased demand for services and an urgency to address rising child hunger in our communities. With inflation, food prices and childcare costs continuing to climb, tax relief for low- and middle-income families would go a long way in supporting those of us who are hungry and our ministries serving those of us in the greatest need.

A bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Sen. Wyden (D-OR) and Rep. Smith (R-MO) have introduced legislative text that would make a modest expansion of the CTC. By some estimates, if enacted, the tax package compromise would lift roughly over 400,000 children out of poverty, and increase benefits for nearly 3 million other children between now and 2025. Advocates should push lawmakers to pass this agreement as soon as possible.

For further details on various bipartisan proposals for CTC expansion, read: https://www.niskanencenter.org/bipartisan-reform-options-for-the-child-tax-credit/

Today, tell your legislators that families should be able to afford the costs of raising a child in the modern economy, and that your lawmaker should champion an expansion of the Child Tax Credit before the end of this year. Use your experiences, convictions and ministry activities to customize the following letter.

Thank you for your advocacy.

POSTED: 11/9/23

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Support an expanded Child Tax Credit this year

Dear [Decision Maker],

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As a Christian and your constituent, I urge you to expand the Child Tax Credit (CTC) before the end of this year.

Churches like my own work throughout the year to offer food and shelter for those of us in greatest need. In doing so, we hope to reduce dangers like child homelessness, hunger and displacement. Since the expiration of the CTC expansion in 2021, we have sadly seen the return of sharp increases in childhood poverty and rises in family homelessness, which have been compounded by a year of record inflation and future economic uncertainty.

The meaningful accomplishment of an expanded CTC would make a transformational difference for low-income families. I hope you can prioritize:

An expansion of the credit that prioritizes young children and improves accessibility to as many families as possible.

Your action on this legislation can continue unprecedented progress against child poverty through expanding the CTC and lifting the burden for those of us who do not have what they foundationally need. Looking ahead to next year, in this moment of economic uncertainty, I urge you to work with colleagues on both sides of the political aisle to help our families in great struggle.

Thank you for your service and consideration.

Respectfully,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Your Email]

Urge Congress to expand the Child Tax Credit

As child poverty grows, lawmakers must prioritize tax relief for low-income families.

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