As Washington Spends, South Dakota Families Must Come First in Budget Reconciliation
As the cost of living rises, the American Dream is slipping out of reach for many South Dakotans. We need YOU to advocate for how Congress can use budget reconciliation (a fast-moving process to push through major tax and spending decisions) to deliver relief by strengthening the Child Tax Credit, expanding eligibility, and ensuring all families can access the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit.
Email Senator Rounds, Leader Thune, and Representative Johnson today!
Young Americans want to pursue marriage, buy a house, have children, and live with purpose, but economic barriers stand in the way. The older generation was able to build these lives, and the next generation deserves the same opportunity.
In South Dakota, we consistently rank #1 in the nation in the nation for fertility rates and #4 in family structure, meaning strong, stable family structures marked by two-parent families. Even with encouraging statistics like this, rising costs box South Dakotans out of what once felt attainable. But Congress can take meaningful steps now.
First, the Child Tax Credit (CTC), recently increased from $2,000 to $2,200, still falls short of its inflation-adjusted value of roughly $2,500. We support Vice President JD Vance’s proposal to raise it to $5,000, giving families the relief they actually need.
Second, working families should be eligible for the CTC as soon as they begin earning income, not only after surpassing a $2,500 threshold. This change would immediately expand access and provide relief earlier, when families need it most.
Finally, the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) should be available to all families with earned income and childcare expenses. Currently, the tax credit benefits only two-income families. If both parents are employed, the family is eligible for this tax credit to help cover childcare expenses. If one parent leaves the workforce however, those same childcare expenses become ineligible for the credit.