[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 82 (Wednesday, May 12, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H2204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                            CHILD TAX CREDIT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Carbajal) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, I was proud to vote for the American 
Rescue Plan because I knew it was the transformational investment we 
needed to get the pandemic under control and our economy back on track.
  Two months later, it is clear the investment has paid off. We have 
gotten more shots in arms, lifted families out of poverty, helped 
children get back to school, helped businesses stay open, and helped 
workers keep their jobs. And we are just getting started.
  Much of the vital support for workers and families included in the 
American Rescue Plan is still underway. One of these measures is the 
expansion of the child tax credit, a historic investment in the future 
of our country.
  It has become harder and harder to afford a college education, a 
home, and childcare.

                              {time}  1045

  As the cost of living continues to soar and wages continue to 
stagnate, the American Dream is slipping out of reach for many working 
families. We need to level the playing field so every child has the 
opportunity to fulfill their potential.
  The child tax credit expansion means working-class families will get 
$300 per child under 6, and $250 per child for children aged 7-17. $300 
a month helps put food on the table so kids do not go hungry. It helps 
pay for child care so parents can get back to work and build a better 
life for their families. And it helps cover healthcare expenses so 
children stay healthy.
  This lifeline benefits a whopping 85 percent of the children in my 
district on the central coast of California. That means a stronger 
economic foundation for over 135,000 children in our community. For the 
11,200 children in my community living in poverty, the child tax credit 
could make all the difference in their lives and their futures.
  I come from a low-income family myself, a working-class family, so I 
know that $300 a month would have lifted a financial burden off my 
parents' shoulders, who already worked so hard to give me and my 
siblings a chance for a better life.
  Advance monthly payments of the child tax credit will start to be 
sent out in July and last through December 2021. Families will get the 
remaining tax credit when they file their 2021 tax returns. Families 
can make sure they get an accurate payment quickly by filing their 2020 
tax return as soon as possible.
  Even individuals who lost their jobs during the pandemic or do not 
normally file taxes, should file this year to receive the credit. The 
IRS needs the information from the tax returns to calculate and issue 
the monthly child tax credit payments.
  I will continue to fight for working families in Congress so they 
keep their hard-earned money in their pockets, and every child has the 
means to achieve the American Dream.

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