If the Child Tax Credit (CTC) that was in effect during 2021 is made permanent, it has the potential to reduce child poverty by about one-third.
According to evidence, doing so would yield far more benefits than drawbacks.
During last year's American Rescue Plan, it expanded the CTC, paid it monthly, and made it fully refundable
In other words, low-income families with little or no earnings could receive the entire amount.
Since the first payment in July 2021, the monthly child poverty rate has decreased by about one third.
The numbers suggest that by the end of the year, 3.7 million children will not be on the poverty rolls.
Recipients' food insecurity also declined by 6.1 percentage points, outpacing that of non-recipients.
Nevertheless, the full refundability and expansion expired at the end of 2021.
Currently, Congress is considering making the 2021 changes permanent.
The House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth recently heard testimony from Republican members.
They criticized the expanded CTC as disincentivizing.
As a result of this criticism, women's choices are paradoxical to stay with their children.
To respond to those criticisms, the CTC gives parents the resources they need to make the right choices for their children.
Child tax credits should be centered around children first and foremost.
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