The Commonwealth Institute Releases New Radio Ad on Importance of Extending the Enhanced Child Tax Credit

The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis released a new radio ad today that highlights how the newly improved Child Tax Credit has been essential for families in Virginia. The ad, which is running now on radio in Northern Virginia, calls on Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) to use his leadership role to support the Child Tax Credit in budget negotiations.

“The new Child Tax Credit has been a gamechanger for our family,” says Linda, a mom of two boys in Fairfax County, who is featured in the ad. “Our first check came this summer just as we were buying back-to-school supplies. The extra money each month makes a real difference.”

“Extending the child tax credit and expanding childcare will make a real difference in the lives of so many working families like ours,” Linda continues in the ad. “Congress MUST extend that. Along with expanding childcare and paid family leave. I want to thank our Senator, Mark Warner, for supporting this in the past. We need his continued support now as Congress negotiates the final bill.”

Like many families, Linda has used the funds to meet other basic needs as well. The improved credit is making a real difference for families across Virginia, including the 34,000 children in veteran and active-duty military families in Virginia who can now access the full credit. Yet without Congressional action, the improvements will abruptly expire at the end of the year. Congress has an opportunity to extend the credit into 2022 and support families through the Build Back Better bill, which would also provide affordable child care and paid family leave.

The Commonwealth Institute has called for ensuring the Child Tax Credit be available to families who need it most, and rejecting recent proposals that would create red tape and barriers around the credit and limit who can receive it.

“Research has repeatedly and clearly shown that work requirements and extremely restrictive income limits undermine the Child Tax Credit and will make it inaccessible to Virginia families who could really use the money to raise their children and support their families,” said Ashley C. Kenneth, president and CEO of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis. “In Virginia, many families with incomes of $60,000 a year or more are struggling to afford child care, buy school supplies, and provide themselves and their families with greater opportunity. The expanded Child Tax Credit lifts up families across the state and will end child poverty for 96,000 Virginia children; creating unnecessary red tape and other barriers will leave many children and their families behind.”

My name is Linda Sperling. I live in Fairfax County and I’m the mom of two active little boys.

I think I speak for most moms like me when I say that the child tax credit has been a game-changer for our family. Our first check came this summer, just as we were buying back-to-school supplies. The extra money each month makes a real difference for our budget.

I love my kids, but they are expensive. Two kids in daycare cost us over $600 a week. That’s unaffordable for many families.

Extending the recent changes to the child tax credit will make a real difference in the lives of countless families like mine.

Congress MUST extend that — along with expanding access to childcare and paid family leave. I want to thank Senator Mark Warner for supporting this in the past. We need his continued support now as Congress negotiates the final bill.

Paid for by The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis.