President Biden is trying to expand the child tax credit that was passed within his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package to become a permanent measure.
Chief of staff Ron Klain said to MSNBC that Biden would attempt to make the monthly tax credit permanent.
“Some parts of the plan lay the foundation for what follows,” said Klain. “Of course, handling the child poverty issue on a long-term basis is an important goal for us.”
Recently, President Biden privately told Democrats he wanted a permanent monthly benefit, a Democratic aide told reporters. He supported a bill introduced by Rep. Suzan DelBene that would make the $3,000-per-child checks a permanent policy.
The stimulus has changed the child tax credit into monthly income for lower and middle-income parents, which was a longtime priority for Democrats.
Under this policy, millions of families will get $300 checks. It will give up to $3,600 per year to parents with children younger then six and up to $3,000 per year to those with kids aged six to 17. Checks will be given monthly and will gradually go away for single parents who make more than $75,000 and couples earning over $150,000.
Over 10 million children are in poverty in America and this program is expected to bring nearly half of them out of poverty and be especially helpful for Latino and Black children.
Liberals and even some Republicans have pushed for a monthly child allowance.
Senator Mitt Romney, who was formerly outspoken about giving free stuff to poor Americans, recently introduced a child allowance that is even greater than President Biden’s version.
