Legislation would expand the Child Tax Credit for 280,000 Alabama children

Washington D.C. — Today, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) voted in favor of the bipartisan Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act. Thanks to the work of Rep. Sewell and her Democratic colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bill would partially restore Democrats’ expansion of the Child Tax Credit, providing greater assistance to 16 million children across the nation including 280,000 in Alabama. The legislation would also provide tax relief to the victims of natural disasters including those in Greene, Hale, Sumter, and Dallas Counties impacted by the January 12th storms. It passed the House of Representatives today by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 357 to 70.

“The Child Tax Credit is among the most effective anti-poverty programs in the nation and thanks to this compromise, it will again provide much needed assistance to Alabama families,” said Rep. Sewell. “While this legislation as a whole does not go as far as it could, it represents important progress in the fight against child poverty and provides critical tax relief to families in Selma and the Black Belt as they rebuild from last year’s tornado. I voted yes because we cannot let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

Thanks to Rep. Sewell and her Democratic colleagues on the House Ways and Means Committee, the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act partially restores Democrats’ expansion of the Child Tax Credit, which previously cut child poverty in the U.S. nearly in half. The expansion will impact 16 million American children including 280,000 in Alabama, and is expected to lift at least half a million children out of poverty, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

During a Ways and Means Committee markup on the bill, Rep. Sewell offered an amendment to once again issue the credit in predictable monthly installments to help families keep up with bills, child care, and other regular expenses. Committee Republicans blocked the amendment by a party-line vote of 25 to 18.

Rep. Sewell also helped secure the inclusion of language that would provide tax relief to the victims of natural disasters, including those in Greene, Hale, Sumter, and Dallas Counties impacted by the January 12th storms. The bill closes a tax loophole that currently penalizes victims of natural disasters who incur loss or damage.