RELEASE: CAP’s Neera Tanden Praises Brown-Bennet Expansion of Child Tax Credit

Advancing Racial Equity and Justice, Building an Economy for All, Strengthening Health, Early Childhood, Economy, Poverty +3 More

Washington, D.C. — Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress, released the following statement praising Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) introduction of a bill that would expand access to the child tax credit (CTC):

The Brown-Bennet bill is what a real tax bill to help American families looks like. Unlike the tax proposal from President Trump and congressional Republican leaders, the Brown-Bennet bill would reduce inequality and help millions of working families afford the costs of raising a family in 2017.

This fully refundable tax credit will give families who are struggling to make ends meet a $3,000 and $3,600 per child credit. Access to this credit throughout the year—rather than just at tax time—will help families afford the necessities like diapers and formula as they are needed, and also will positively affect children’s long-term outcomes such as their education, employment, earnings, and health.

Serious attempts, like this bill, to support middle- and working-class families are desperately needed in the face of the congressional majority’s proposals to give a sweeping tax cut to the richest Americans. Rather than explode the deficit to give massive tax breaks to millionaires and wealthy corporations, Congress should reject the Trump tax plan and embrace efforts like the Brown-Bennet bill that will add stability and support to the lives of American families.