We have a lot to celebrate! Because you spoke out, wrote letters, called your members of Congress, shared your stories, AND never gave up, starting last week our families started to receive monthly checks of up to $300/child thanks to the newly expanded Child Tax Credit. [1]

This is a really big deal! How big?  Even if you made little to no income in the past year you can still get the Child Tax Credit. In fact, 90% of households with children are eligible for the new Child Tax Credit. And it’s impact can’t be overstated--it is estimated that these monthly checks will cut child poverty in half.

But there is more to do because these monthly checks will end at the end of 2021 so we need you to speak out once again!

***Send a Letter to the Editor to your local paper calling on Congress to make the expansion of the Child Tax Credit permanent. (Don’t worry--we make it super easy for you. When you click here you can use our easy Letter to the Editor tool)

It’s incredibly important that you send a Letter to the Editor now! Unless Congress takes immediate action, the newly expanded Child Tax Credit will expire at the end of the year. You and I both know that raising kids is expensive and that expense doesn’t stop just because the year has ended. Struggling families need this money in the years to come to pay for groceries, medicine, rent, clothes for our little ones, college funds, and of course childcare.

Now is the time to speak out because Congress is debating a recovery package that is supposed to include the Child Tax Credit expansion and we need them to know that they must make this expansion permanent! [2]

***All of this is why it is SO important for you to take action now and submit a letter to the editor to your local paper! (Once you click on this link we’ll walk you through the fast steps to submit a letter to your local paper, including providing sample language).

Why do letters to the editor matter so much? Simply put—U.S. Senators and Representatives read their local papers! By submitting a letter you are helping us raise the profile on this very important issue and ringing the alarm bells that we expect Congress to pass these provisions in the next recovery package.

Don’t worry—sending the Letter to the Editor is super easy! When you click on the link above, we’ll lead you through a quick process to write a Letter to the Editor to your local newspaper. This tool is pretty magical—you can easily edit our pre-drafted letter, if you wish (inserting your personal story if you have one!), and send it to your paper with just a few clicks.

The pre-drafted letter (which you can edit when you click through to the link!) simply says:

"On July 15th families across the country started getting up to $300 per child in monthly payments thanks to the newly expanded Child Tax Credit.

This is a really big deal! 90% of households with children are eligible for the new Child Tax Credit. And it’s impact can’t be overstated— it is estimated that these monthly checks will cut child poverty in half.

Every parent should have the ability to provide for their kids and care for their families. $300 per kid every month will help lots of parents in our community. These payments are designed to help all families succeed — whether you’re struggling to pay rent or put food on the table, need to purchase back-to-school supplies or need help saving for college. That support will really help families keep up with the rising cost of living.

These payments help families pay for childcare, so parents can afford to go back to work or take on more hours on the job. That’s good for our economy, and our whole community. 

But unless Congress takes immediate action these monthly payments will expire at the end of the year. That is why it is crucial that our elected leaders make the expansion of the Child Tax Credit permanent in the next recovery package."

***Help us make the Child Tax Credit permanent by sending a Letter to the Editor to your local paper now!

Thank you so much for continuing to take action on these important issues! After you send your own letter to the editor forward this email to your friends and family and encourage them to send one as well. You also can post our action link on social media so people can take action as well.

Thank you for all you do to lift up our families and economy.

P.S. Do you have questions about the Child Tax Credit or want to know how to get it (if you are not already receiving the checks)? Don’t worry, we have you covered. Check out our English language Child Tax Credit website and our Spanish language Child Tax Credit website.

[1] “The first child tax credit payments go out to 65 million kids this week. How to navigate the process.” CNBC, July 15, 2021.

[2] “Democratic lawmakers call for permanent expansion of the $3,000 child tax credit.” CNBC, July 14, 2021.