Before Congress leaves for the holidays, critical changes are needed to adjust how our tax credits are calculated for next year's tax filing season. Unfortunately, neither the bipartisan framework nor the McConnell stimulus package includes changes to the tax credits, and that’s a problem for children and families.
Read MoreThe rent has come due again amid another spike in COVID-19 cases and millions of families can’t afford to pay. According to the latest Census data, 1 in 4 renter families with children are behind on the rent. The only thing standing between these families and eviction is the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) temporary eviction moratorium, which took effect in September and is set to expire at the end of the year. If the eviction moratorium is not extended by the CDC before the year’s end and does not include some changes to the existing language to ensure more families are covered, 30 to 40 million renters are at risk of losing their home.
Read MoreOur nation has the resources to make sure child care providers and families can weather this unprecedented crisis if we prioritize child care and recognize it as a necessity. Congress must pass COVID relief that includes the $50 billion in dedicated funding to stabilize the child care sector as high-quality child care is essential for our children, families, and economy.
Read MoreOn behalf of the Children’s Defense Fund, I’m asking you to recommit yourself to the important work of eradicating the evils of poverty and racism and pushing for a just future for all children. This work is not easy, it can be uncomfortable, and it can be messy. But as fully engaged participants in this democracy, we must do the work.
Read MoreStudents deserve safe, healthy, and inclusive learning environments and access to equitable educational opportunities. Schools can foster these learning environments by implementing policies that ensure students have equal access to facilities and activities; promoting and supporting LGBTQ-inclusive student clubs; and providing professional development for staff to give educators the tools they need to be supportive and intervene when needed. Rather than feeling unsafe or uncomfortable, students deserve to have all of their identities supported and celebrated in school.
Read MoreLast month, Governor Newsom signed AB 1876, which removed exclusions of Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) filers for the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) and Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), making it possible for people who do not have a Social Security Number (SSN) to claim credits.
Read MoreEven before the pandemic, criminalization and incarceration threatened young people’s short- and long-term health, development, and economic opportunities and fueled devastating racial disparities. In honor of Youth Justice Action Month, we’re proud to uplift the exciting work of our CDF colleagues in New York and California to protect and support justice-involved young people amid the pandemic and beyond.
Read MoreThe COVID-19 crisis has shed light on the parallel pandemics - poverty and racism - with which we are all too familiar. Right now, the ten million children who are already living in poverty and millions more are experiencing the highest amount of hardship than any other age group.
Read MoreIn a positive move last Sunday, a federal judge struck down a dangerous Trump administration proposal to take SNAP benefits away from 700,000 Americans. In her opinion, Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell of D.C. deemed the proposal “arbitrary and capricious” and sided with the 19 states, D.C., New York City and a coalition of groups who sued to stop the final rule back in December.
Read MoreI can’t really pinpoint the first time I became politically engaged. I can’t remember a moment where politics wasn’t on my mind.
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