By Bishop Sandra Steiner-Ball
The opportunity to greatly reduce child poverty comes but once or twice in a generation. That’s why we must extend the expanded Child Tax Credit, especially the feature that ensures all eligible poor children receive it.
Doing so puts children first, cuts child hunger and poverty, and helps families give their children a strong start in life.
The expanded Child Tax Credit is one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in recent years, providing families in need with $3,600 for every child in the household under the age of 6 and $3,000 for every child between the ages of 6 and 17. The expanded child tax credit will help more than 2.3 million children in Pennsylvania -- 90% of all children under 18.
By making the full child credit available to the lowest-income families — just like for the middle class — the children and families who need the most help can get it. And distributing the tax credit in monthly payments helps families make ends meet every month.
Evidence shows that the vast majority of families receiving the credit are working. Many others who claim the credit are parents in between jobs or are retired grandparents caring for their grandchildren or parents, who are unable to work because of an illness or have very young children.
Denying the credit to children whose parents or caretakers are not working would be harmful to those children who need this the most and dramatically weaken the anti-poverty effect of this policy.
Our congregations see these families and hear their stories, the fears and concerns, at our worship services and mission sites.
Children are at the heart of many local congregations’ educational, worship and outreach ministries. We see children in our Sunday schools, at our vacation Bible schools and during children’s moments in worship.
We see children in our outreach ministries, our food pantries and clothing closets.
We are privileged to journey with these children as they grow from infants to adults. We come alongside them and their families in the triumphs and struggles, remembering the words of Jesus: “It is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should be lost.” (Matthew 18:14).
According to a recently released report from The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 13 million kids live in poverty. And Pennsylvania is among ten states with increases in the percentage of kids living in high-poverty areas.
The most recent statistics from Spotlight on Poverty says 17 percent of children in Pennsylvania live in poverty, with children from minority populations faring even worse.
Estimates are 42% of Black children and 35 percent of Hispanic children in Pennsylvania live in poverty.
Extending the child tax credit will help alleviate the suffering of millions of children and their families in Pennsylvania and throughout the nation.
Our generation, and this Congress, have the opportunity to take long-overdue steps to reduce child poverty, by permanently extending the refundable part of this legislation. In doing so, poor children would be better enabled to receive this critical assistance.
Our generation must care for and bless the next.
The Rev. Dr. Sandra Steiner-Ball serves as Bishop of the West Virginia Conference and co-Bishop of the Susquehanna Conference of the United Methodist Church.
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