Thread by @rebeccavallas

Thrilled to see the new idea @amprog developed for a monthly Young Child Tax Credit introduced today by @SenSherrodBrown @SenatorBennet @rosadelauro @SuzanDelBene as part of the American Family Act!

https://twitter.com/amprog/status/1103386872405991425

@amprog @SenSherrodBrown @SenatorBennet @rosadelauro @SuzanDelBene Incredible to see such broad support for this legislation:

- 35 Senate cosponsors
- 173 House cosponsors
- Every major 2020 Dem hopeful is on the bill

@amprog @SenSherrodBrown @SenatorBennet @rosadelauro @SuzanDelBene Another really important part of the bill that will get buried: it makes the existing Child Tax Credit **fully refundable** -- so it will reach the poorest children & families, ~11 million of whom currently get no CTC at all or just a tiny amount under current law.

@amprog @SenSherrodBrown @SenatorBennet @rosadelauro @SuzanDelBene Between this, the creation of the new monthly Young Child Tax Credit, and other important features to strengthen the existing CTC, the American Family Act would on its own cut child poverty in the U.S. **nearly in half.**

@amprog @SenSherrodBrown @SenatorBennet @rosadelauro @SuzanDelBene Why make the Young Child Tax Credit monthly, you ask?

Because lots of expenses related to raising a child (diapers, infant formula...) don't wait for tax time.

The monthly YCTC would enable families to meet their kids' needs now instead of waiting for a lump sum tax refund.

And why focus on boosting incomes for families w/very young kids (< age 5) with this new Young Child Tax Credit?

B/c the first few years of life are so critical to kids' development--including brain development.

Exposure to poverty during childhood has lifelong consequences.

More on why this is exactly the kind of policymaking America's kids and families need their leaders championing, via the @amprog report that first put forth the idea:
americanprogress.org/issues/poverty…