CONGRESSMAN DAVIS CELEBRATES EXPANDED CHILD TAX CREDIT

Congressman Danny Davis stands with community stakeholders during a press conference to bring awareness to the expanded Child Tax Credit. Photo by Tia Carol Jones
Congressman Danny Davis stands with community stakeholders during a press conference to bring awareness to the expanded Child Tax Credit. Photo by Tia Carol Jones

 Congressman Davis celebrates expanded child tax credit

BY TIA CAROL JONES
     Monday, June 21, was designated Child Tax Credit Day. Congressman Danny Davis, D. Dist. 7, joined community stakeholders to talk about the importance of an expanded child tax credit.
     The Child Tax Credit was part of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan signed by President Joe Biden in March. The expanded tax credit would give $250 per month, per child, between the ages of 6 to 17, and $300 per month, per child, younger than 6. Families who make less than $75,000 annually are eligible for these payments, which are set to begin, July 15.
     Davis said 36 million families would stand to benefit from the legislation. Davis said he wanted to bring awareness to the legislation because many people who are eligible do not have to file income tax in order to receive the payments, because they do not make enough money to file.
     “We want to make sure individuals who qualify get the help they need,” he said.
     Davis encouraged people who do qualify for the child tax credit to go to a tax preparer to help apply for the benefit. He said they could seek the services of Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, which provides free tax help to those who make $54,000 or less.
     “We don’t want a single solitary person to be missed,” he said, adding that Congress is trying to make this tax credit permanent.
Davis said the Child Tax Credit was not symbolic but real money for low-income people. According to a release, 87.6 % of children in Davis’ 7th District will gain from the new Child Tax Credit.
     Davis said as chair of the Family and Workers Support Committee in the House Ways and Means Committee, much of the money comes through that committee. He said the committee deals with the needs of people who are the most vulnerable members of the society.
     Christa Hamilton, CEO of Centers for New Horizons, said it will help close the gap for the 6,000 families Centers for New Horizons represents across the South side of Chicago.
     “We know how important it is, especially now, during this time of recovery from the pandemic, how families really have they need to help close. As we’re working with them to get back into the job market, to get kids back into schools, these stimulus dollars will be necessary as we close out the end of this year,” she said.
      Hamilton said Centers for New Horizons is committed to assisting Davis to get the non-filers who are eligible for the tax credit, get filed. She said in the coming weeks, Centers for New Horizons, along with other community organizations would work to connect those families to filing services, especially those with free filing services.
      “We are excited about this initiative, we are happy to support you, Congressman Davis, in making this a permanent fixture into our economy,” she said.
      Cynthia Williams, executive director of Austin Peoples Action Center, said thousands of women come through the Austin Peoples Action Center, and they will be able to benefit from the Child Tax Credit.
     “In this zip code, 60651, Child Tax Credit would generate over $171,000 for non-filers. These are people who don’t know about it, just in this zip code alone,” she said, adding Austin Peoples Action Center services people in North Lawndale, Austin, East Garfield Park, West Garfield Park. “This new Child Tax Credit would generate over $1 million for families. You just can’t ask for more resources for our clients in the time that is needed.”
     For more information on the Child Tax Credit, visit tinyurl.com/4bkhbd43, or call 773-533-7520.

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