Data for Progress Polling Shows Strong Public Support for a Permanent Child Tax Credit

Washington, D.C. — Today Rep. Ritchie Torres (NY-15) called on Democratic leaders to make the expanded Child Tax Credit created by the American Rescue Plan permanent. Rep. Torres was joined by advocates from Children’s Defense Fund, Fighting Chance for Families and a Bronx Resident and New York Beat the Odds Scholar and Youth Advocate to detail the importance of a permanent Child Tax Credit. 

The expanded Child Tax Credit has provided a major boost to the economy since the first payments went out in mid-July, and is projected to cut child poverty by 50 percent. As the second payments hit bank accounts, it is crucial for the government to continue this great progress for working families and the economy by making the Child Tax Credit expansion permanent. 

Fighting Chance for Families polling showing strong public support for the Child Tax Credit, particularly from voters who have received CTC payments — including Trump voters. The poll also found that across partisanship, people who received the expanded Child Tax Credit created by the American Rescue Plan are strongly supportive of it (by +70 points) and want to see it made permanent (by +54 points). 

In the United States, $15 billion worth of child tax credit payments had an economic impact of $18.6 billion. Here in New York State, $800 million worth of child tax credit payments had an economic impact of about a billion dollars.

“Expanding the child tax credit is not only good morals, it’s good economics–it is a $1 billion stimulus for the New York State economy, but far more important than stimulating the economy is investing in our children for the long run,” said Rep. Torres. “This is an investment, not only in our children, but in ourselves. For children under the age of six, a $3,000 increase in annual family income leads to a 19% increase in the lifetime earnings of that child. It leads to higher test scores, higher graduation rates, and higher lifetime earnings. It enables our children to lead better and longer, healthier and happier lives. And if that is not the purpose of public service, then I don’t know what is. 

“The expanded Child Tax Credit has played a critical role in our recovery and there is absolutely no reason for Congress to cut it off and pull the rug out from under families and the economy. If Congress allows this expanded tax credit to expire it would force countless families into poverty, make it more difficult for Americans to afford childcare, groceries, and other necessities — and threaten our economic recovery,” said Fighting Chance for Families spokeswoman Marcela Mulholland. “We can’t allow that to happen — and that’s why we are so grateful for the work of champions like Representative Torres who are fighting to make this expansion permanent.”

“Child poverty is a moral stain on our nation’s character,” said Melissa Genadri, Poverty & Health Policy Associate with the Children’s Defense Fund – New York.  “Permanently expanding the Child Tax Credit would be transformative for our most vulnerable children and families, holding the potential to cut child poverty in half nationally and by over a third in New York, advance racial equity and ensure that the youngest New Yorkers thrive.”

“Although my story of poverty is my own, many others have similar or even more dire situations,” said Kiara, Children’s Defense Fund – New York Beat the Odds Scholar and Youth Advocate. “In my district, New York’s 15th Congressional District, we have the highest child poverty rate in the nation. Children and youth shouldn’t have to fret about food or housing insecurities. Our focus should be getting an education, being children and young adults, and thriving so we can become the future leaders of our communities. We, the children of today, can’t possibly become the leaders of tomorrow if we’re perpetually stuck in this never-ending cycle of poverty! The expanded child tax credit is a down payment on ending child poverty and an investment in our nation’s tomorrow.”

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