DeLauro Marks Child Tax Credit Week of Action

WASHINGTON—House Appropriations Committee Chair Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) delivered the following remarks on the House Floor marking the Child Tax Credit Week of Action by urging people to file their taxes by May 17 and calling for permanency of the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit. A video of DeLauro's remarks can be found here.

This week was designated as the Child Tax Credit Week of Action. The outpouring of stories and news articles coming from across the country describing just how transformational this assistance will be for families is heartwarming.

I am so proud that in the American Rescue Plan we fought, and we won the expansion and improvement of the Child Tax Credit. Its inclusion was historic but just a first step. We must make this expansion permanent.

The Child Tax Credit is a lifeline to the middle class, cuts child poverty by 55 percent this year, and provides children and their families with additional payments throughout the year that help them with the costs of food, childcare, diapers, healthcare, clothing, and taxes. Poor, working, and middle-class families – 90 percent of our children will receive the same monthly benefits.

We must spread the word about the benefits of the Child Tax Credit and how families can start to receive a monthly check starting this July. If people have already filed a tax return, they are all set. However, if they have not filed their tax return, and their family is eligible for the Child Tax Credit, they must file their taxes by May 17th. If they typically do not file, this will ensure that their family will start to receive the monthly benefit.

Let's get the word out. Let's get people signed up.