Families all across the country are celebrating the new Child Tax Credit
When checks start hitting bank accounts on July 15th, millions of families will directly feel the real-life impact of a policy passed by lawmakers in Washington, D.C. The new Child Tax Credit — about $250 per kid, per month, with no strings attached — is a huge win for parents everywhere.
My colleagues at Economic Security Project Action and over 50 amazing partner organizations have been hard at work to mark the first checks with 35 “Keep Families Afloat” events across the nation. This nationwide blitz of events features parents, community leaders, activists, artists, and elected officials in over a dozen states.
The week culminates in “Family Matters,” a virtual rally at 2 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 15th, the first day of CTC checks, featuring Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Raphael Warnock, Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton, Reverend William Barber II, Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson, National Domestic Workers Alliance Co-Founder and Executive Director Ai-jen Poo, and Mayors for a Guaranteed Income founder Michael Tubbs, and so many other advocates, parents and families from across the country. Community Change co-president and Economic Security Project co-chair Dorian Warren is hosting the event alongside commentator Melissa Harris-Perry. (You can tune in on Facebook or RSVP here for a reminder.)
I’ve delighted in watching the newsclips roll in on Slack all week — and wanted to put together a few highlights here, including local news clips to social media coverage from the ground:
RIVERSIDE, CA: Labor Secretary Marty Walsh and Congressman Mark Takano hosted a roundtable discussion with local families on the newly expanded tax credit, where Takano called for making the expanded credit permanent.
CHICAGO, IL: Senator Dick Durbin and Congresswomen Robin Kelly and Marie Newman joined local families at a Chicago Park District splash pad. Shauna Schumer, a mom who hasn’t been able to work during the pandemic, said she was happy to hear that financial relief was coming her way: “I hope it helps a lot of families to just be back on their feet where they need to be or just help pay bills that are past due.”
BUFFALO, NY: Congressman Brian Higgins joined Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown, organizers from the Urban League and PUSH Buffalo, and local families for an event. Vonetta Rhodes, mom of two, said, “As a full-time student and working mother of a little one, I know what it’s like to have to struggle with childcare. There are times where I’ve had to choose between school, work, or my daughter, and I had to miss school and work because I couldn’t afford to pay for childcare.”
NEW YORK, NY: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Congressman Jerry Nadler spoke with families getting help applying for the new credit. “One of our goals in the upcoming Build Back Better plan is to extend this way beyond December 31. Many of us would like to make this permanent,” said Senator Schumer.
MADISON, WI: Congressman Mark Pocan joined State Representative Shelia Stubbs as well as local organizers and families to talk about the importance of the new tax credit. “The child tax credit will feed our children. It will put a roof over their heads; it will empower parents to support their children; it will support the children in a long, prosperous way,” said State Rep. Stubbs. Congressman Pocan called in his remarks for the credit to be made permanent.
MILWAUKEE, WI: Cavalier Johnson, Milwaukee Common Council president, told organizers and families gathered at Grant Park about how he’ll personally benefit from the tax credit: “I cannot afford child care for my children. I can’t. So this means a lot to me and for a lot of people that make, unfortunately, less than I do.”
PORTLAND, ME: Organizers with the Maine People’s Alliance and Maine Equal Justice handed out ice cream while helping low-income families who are not required to file taxes sign up for the tax credit. “An extra $300 a month makes a big difference to a family who is struggling to put food on the table and to really pay bills and just live,” volunteer Pedro Vazquez said.
CHARLESTON, WV: Beth Goodlet, a mother of three who has taken side tutoring jobs for extra income, said the credit will help families like hers provide for their children: “This is going to help us out for basic things such as healthy food options for our kids and just things that we need month-by-month.”
SACRAMENTO, CA: Members of the Sacramento Poor People’s Campaign and South Oak Park Community Association held an event at Jack Davis Park to get the word out to families about the expanded tax credit. “It’s kind of like free money. If you have children under the age of 17, you can take advantage of this. You may be able to get at least $3,000 per child,” said one of the participants.
Huge shout out to the “Keep Families Afloat” Week of Action crew — Children’s HealthWatch, Community Change Action, Common Sense Media, Color Of Change, Groundwork Action, Fighting Chance for Families Action, Children’s Defense Fund, Income Movement, MomsRising, People’s Action, the Care Can’t Wait coalition, ParentsTogether Action, California Poor People’s Campaign, United State of Women, Mi Familia Vota, Ground Game LA, Level Up California, LIFT, United Today Stronger Tomorrow, CT Citizen Action Group, GA Budget and Policy Institute, Kansas Action for Children, Maine People’s Alliance, Michigan United, Detroit Action, Isaiah MN, Battle Born Progress, End Child Poverty, Rights and Democracy NH, Make The Road NJ, Push Buffalo, Communities United for Action, Hoosier Action, All Women Count, Poverty Action, FUSE, West Virginia Citizen Action Education Fund, Community Action Partnership of Orange County, Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Fresno Economic Opportunities Commision, 603 Forward, WISDOM, WI Council of Churches, Kids Forward, Community Advocates, Faith in the Valley, Workers Center for Racial Justice, Opportunity Wisconsin, Statewide Poverty Action Network, and more.
