As a group of advocacy organizations specifically focused on child well-being, we the undersigned have grave concerns that the actions of extreme factions within Congress will cause undue harm in the near-term and well into the future for children and families with the lowest incomes.
Read MoreChildren’s Defense Fund is calling on state and federal lawmakers to act aggressively in support of young people as new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows child poverty is getting worse in America.
Read MoreChildren’s Defense Fund (CDF) applauds the Senate for passing the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 as it will provide some needed relief for children, youth, and families across the country. The historic investment in clean energy is a pledge to our children’s future, reducing prescription costs and helping families cover health care premiums will help ensure parents do not have to choose between their health and supporting their families, and the billions generated from a new minimum tax on large corporations could one day go toward economic and social benefits for children, youth, and families.
Read MoreThe expanded federal Child Tax Credit (CTC) has reduced families’ financial stress, helped them afford necessities, and allowed about one in four of those receiving monthly payments to work more hours outside of the home, according to a national poll conducted by Ipsos Research and released today by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).
Read More“President Biden’s framework brings us one step closer to a historic, essential, and long-overdue investment in our country’s children and families. We’re poised to boost families’ economic stability and reduce racial inequities in income, housing, education, and health care that harm Black and brown children every day. We appreciate the countless child advocates, parents, friends in the White House, and champions in Congress who have fought for decades to bring us to this point."
Read MoreU.S. Census Bureau Poverty Data Release September 15, 2021 - “New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau yesterday confirm two critical facts. First, far [...]
Read MoreAugust 4, 2021; Washington, DC—Today, over 700 community-serving organizations called on Congress and the Biden administration to make the expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) a permanent investment and ensure it is available to all families who need it. The Automatic Benefit for Children (ABC) Coalition, co-chaired by the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) and the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), led this effort which comes at an urgent moment as the expanded CTC’s future past 2021 is uncertain. Congress must act now, or the expanded credit will expire after this year.
Read MorePresident Biden called on Congress to extend the American Rescue Plan’s expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) for only four more years and make the CTC permanently refundable. While this is an important step toward promoting families’ economic well-being, families need a guaranteed income that is generous, inclusive, and permanent—not a smaller cash benefit in a few years that could undermine the progress our nation is making on ending child poverty. We call on Congress and the President to take the bold action families need and make the full CTC expansions permanent.
Read MoreComprehensive report from the Children's Defense Fund shows that even before the COVID-19 pandemic, children were the poorest age group in America, with children of [...]
Read MoreThe Children’s Defense Fund will fight to make these changes to the Child Tax Credit permanent and to continue make improvements. We believe this is crucial to our vision of a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive.
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