Statement Attributed to Vince Hall, Chief Government Relations Officer
Feeding America urges the Senate to prioritize children and families and swiftly pass the expansion of the Child Tax Credit included in the tax legislation recently passed by the House of Representatives on a broad bipartisan basis.
The 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion helped cut child poverty nearly in half, showing that momentum to end hunger can occur when our lawmakers work together to create policies that help expand economic opportunity. The Child Tax Credit provisions in this bill would strengthen a powerful and proven tool to help ensure families can access the food and resources they need to thrive.
In 2022, more than 13 million children in the U.S.—1 in 5—faced hunger. This is the highest level of child food insecurity since 2014 and a significant increase from the prior year. The proposed Child Tax Credit expansion would help lift as many as 400,000 kids out of poverty in the first year alone while offering additional support to millions more children across the country, according to one estimate .
Hunger does not happen in a vacuum. Rising costs of living, including high housing and food prices, are straining families across the country. After the 2021 Child Tax Credit expansion expired, our country’s progress in reducing child poverty was reversed. That is why the current proposal to expand the Child Tax Credit is so important. The proposal would benefit 80% of the 19 million children whose families currently receive partial or no credit due to their income being too low. It would positively impact the day-to-day lives of millions of children by reducing hardships and stressors for families.
With this change, our country has an opportunity to help improve the economic circumstances of millions of families. Feeding America calls on the Senate to pass the expansion of the Child Tax Credit included in the bipartisan tax legislation as soon as possible.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.