REP. WATERS STATEMENT ON NEW CHILD POVERTY DATA AND THE NEED TO EXTEND THE 2021 CHILD TAX CREDIT

Washington D.C. - Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, released the following statement on new child poverty data and the need for Congress to extend the 2021 Child Tax Credit.

“I am deeply disturbed by new data from the Census Bureau, which revealed that the child poverty rate in the United States has more than doubled, rising from the lowest recorded level of 5.2% in 2021 to 12.4% in 2022. This increase is a result of Republicans in Congress who refuse to work with Democrats to extend the 2021 Child Tax Credit. In Los Angeles County, which includes my congressional district, CA-43, the child poverty rate for the most recent year data is available is 18.5%. The children in my district deserve a fighting chance, and that is what the 2021 expanded and improved Child Tax Credit gave them. 

The critical safety net program, which was expanded in President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, provided the largest-ever Child Tax Credit and historic relief to a record number of working families. The outcomes are a testament to its effectiveness. Under Democratic leadership in Congress, the national child poverty rate in 2021 was nearly halved compared to the year before, from 9.7% in 2020 down to a record low of 5.2% in 2021. Hunger for families with kids was reduced by 26%. This historic policy action improved the lives of 60 million children in this country.

However, the progress has been reversed because Republicans are unwilling to work with Democrats to extend the credit, forcing millions of kids back into poverty. Republicans oppose the full-scale expansion of 2021 that Democrats championed, which increased the credit up to $3,600 for the youngest kids and $3,000 per child aged 6 and over. The credit was also made fully available for people with little to no taxable income. Half the credit was paid in monthly installments from July through December that year, while parents could claim the other half when they filed their 2021 taxes. It gave families with children the critical support they needed and improved the lives of some of the most vulnerable citizens in our country. 

We must expand the Child Tax Credit in order to see the full potential of our children when they have their most basic needs met. When compared to other rich nations in the world, the U.S. has one of the highest rates of child poverty. We must do better. That will be possible when Republicans in Congress decide to put People Over Politics.”

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