[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 66 (Friday, April 16, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H1849]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HELPING YOUNG MOTHERS

  (Mr. CASTEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CASTEN. Madam Speaker, earlier this month I visited Teen Parent 
Connection in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. It is an organization that serves 
young mothers, offering everything from diapers and formula, to doulas, 
counseling, and domestic abuse support services.
  They were extremely grateful for the recent $1,400 economic impact 
payments that, in many cases, helped these new moms cover critical 
expenses like housing, food, and healthcare. But as we talked, it 
became apparent that they were not taking advantage and didn't even 
know about the larger $3,600 per child Child Tax Credit. And why would 
they? These are new moms that have never filed taxes before. They don't 
follow the tax policy changes nearly as closely as we do here in the 
Capitol, but here is this fantastic need.
  Our office is now working to connect them with free tax filing 
services, but to the rest of American parents--young and old--please 
make sure to take advantage of this program. Even if you don't have any 
taxes due, the credit is fully refundable, and once you file, we will 
start sending checks to 70 million American families on July 1.
  This tax credit will cut child poverty in half, help close the racial 
wealth gap, and help ensure more kids can live up to their full 
potential. In Illinois alone, it will lift 153,000 children out of 
poverty. It is, in short, a really big deal.

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