Starting the week of July 15, most parents in our country began receiving the monthly Child Tax Credit for each of their children. For the next year, families with children will be receiving up to $300 per month for each child.
I know from firsthand experience how important this Child Tax Credit is. Although my children are all grown, I have four grandchildren and I know how expensive it is to raise children these days. One of my grandchildren, who was born very prematurely over 10 years ago, has special needs.
She still needs ongoing multiple therapies. These are expensive and often not covered by health insurance. My other son and his wife both work full-time. Childcare costs, however, for their preschool-age children are comparable to the cost of college.
Mothers and fathers know best how to meet the needs of their children. The Child Tax Credit gives families meaningful financial support and the freedom to choose what is best for their children. Ohio Job and Family Services reports that in Knox County, half of our children (more than 6,500 children) are economically disadvantaged.
Twenty-five percent of our children (more than 3,000 children) live in poverty. For a great majority of these families, both parents are already working. The Child Tax Credit is an opportunity for these families to build a better life for themselves and their children.
The American Rescue Plan, which included the Child Tax Credit, passed with only Democratic support. None of the Republicans in the House or Senate voted in favor of this bill. Yet it is arguably the most pro-family legislation to come out of Congress in a generation.
Janet Chandler
Mount Vernon, Ohio
