Durbin: We Can't Waste Time to Pass President Biden's American Rescue Plan
Durbin also highlights the importance of providing increases in the Child Tax Credit to struggling families
WASHINGTON – In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) today called on the Senate to support President Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which would deliver economic relief to American families and small businesses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. President Biden’s American Rescue Plan is a historic legislative package designed to change the course of the pandemic, get students back to school, give families and businesses a bridge to an economic recovery, and invest in advancing racial equity.
“The American Rescue Plan represents the best thinking of leading economists and public health experts. We can debate it if we wish, but we can't drag our feet. We can't waste a day. People are dying every minute,” Durbin said.
During his speech, Durbin also spoke about his support for a provision in the American Rescue Plan that expands the Child Tax Credit (CTC). The American Rescue Plan would make the CTC fully refundable and temporarily increase the credit amount from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under age 6 and to $3,000 for older children. In addition, it would allow 17-year-olds to qualify for the credit, which is now limited to those age 16 and younger.
“We have economists who tell us that if the Biden proposal on these tax benefits for families with children are enacted into law, we will cut child poverty in half in America. Think about that. Dramatic change. We hear so many conversations about the state of the economy and those who remain left behind and whether or not income inequality is going to be addressed. Starting with the children, I will say to President Biden, it's the right starting point. It would be wonderful if we had bipartisan support for helping these kids,” Durbin continued. “I can tell you this, the money it costs for these tax cuts and credits is far less than the expense that will be incurred by America as a nation if these kids don't have an opportunity to grow up healthy, educated, and productive.”
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate floor is available here for TV Stations.
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