The cost of everything – from fuel to food – is the highest it’s been in 40 years.  Families are in urgent need of economic stability. To address this, restoring the expanded, monthly refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is the most immediate, impactful, and direct solution to help families navigate the challenges of an uncertain economy.

The previously enacted expanded CTC successfully reduced child poverty, infused tens of billions of dollars into local economies, and immediately decreased food insecurity by nearly one-third. If reinstated, the expanded CTC and EITC could provide rapid relief to 3.6 million families with kids and 17 million individuals without children within weeks.

The monthly, fully refundable CTC previously lifted nearly 4 million children from poverty, benefiting a staggering 66 million—90% of children in the United States. However, under current law, millions of children are once again excluded and at risk of not having access to necessities.

As Presbyterians, we are committed to eradicating systemic poverty with our Matthew 25 Movement enacted by the 223rd General Assembly. Our faith underscores the importance of working to end poverty, create communities of well-being, and seek justice for all people. “We believe God calls us to work to end poverty and to create communities of well-being. We believe that God created the world and called it good; that the earth belongs to God; that God tasked the first humans with serving and preserving God’s Creation; and that the prophets called again and again for God’s people to seek well-being and justice for all people.” This belief inspires us to work toward eliminating poverty for all people as a concrete way to affirm the God’s dignity for all people. 

Since the expiration of the Child Tax Credit, approximately 3.7 million children have fallen back into poverty as a report from Columbia University highlights. With nearly 10 million children nationwide at risk of falling into or deeper into poverty—disproportionally affecting Black, Latino, and Asian families. 

It is crucial that Congress acts swiftly to ensure these 10 million children and their families have access to funds to provide for their basic needs during uncertain economic times. Urge Congress now to restore the expanded, monthly refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). This is the most immediate, meaningful, and direct way to eradicate systemic poverty for children, their families, and vulnerable communities. Pray, act, and write to Congress today!