On Friday, during the House Ways and Means Committee raise on HR 7024, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, U.S. Rep. Terry Sewell (AL-07) fully reinstates the Democratic expansion of the child tax credit. (CTC) who led the initiative eliminate child poverty In the US, Congressional Republicans cut it by almost half before the deadline expired.

“When Democrats held the majority, we took historic action to expand the Child Tax Credit and provide a lifeline to working families in the form of monthly payments. “Before my colleagues let this program expire, we were able to cut child poverty in half and lift millions of children out of poverty,” said Congressman Sewell. Today's increases would not have been possible without Democrats' insistence on supporting our most vulnerable children. We should seize this opportunity to fully reinstate this important anti-poverty program. ”

The Democratic Party's American Rescue Plan (ARP), signed by President Biden on March 11, 2021, increases the CTC from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under 6 years old and from 6 to 17 years old. The case was expanded to $3,000. Democrats made the credits fully refundable. , no longer limited to the taxpayer's income tax liability and for the first time issued to families in the form of monthly payments. In 2021, CTC reduced child poverty by: lowest level ever, lifted 5.3 million people out of poverty, including 2.9 million children. CTC reduced poverty among black children by 6.3 percentage points, from 14.5 percent to 8.1 percent, reaching approximately 716,000 children.In Alabama, approx. 992,000 children Benefited from enhanced CTC.

Among other provisions, HR 7024 moderately expands the CTC. During Friday's price increase, Congressman Sewell proposed the following: correction Reissue credit in predictable monthly installments to help families keep up with bills, child care, and other regular expenses. Republicans on the committee blocked the amendment on a party-line vote of 25-18. Republicans also rejected an amendment that would have made CTCs fully refundable to reach our nation's poorest children.

“I am disappointed that Republicans have chosen to prioritize politics over good policy by refusing to fully restore the Child Tax Credit,” Sewell continued. “Nonetheless, this bill represents a step in the right direction, which is why I voted to remove it from the Ways and Means Committee.”

HR 7024 passed the House Ways and Means Committee on a 40-3 vote on Friday.