Child Tax Credit Improvement Act of 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I join with dozens of religious, child, tax, and poverty organizations to strongly oppose H.R. 4935 because it would push an estimated 12 million people, including 6 million children, into deeper poverty.

The child tax credit is one of the most effective tax benefits for families with children and is a shining example of smart Federal investment. The credit encourages work, raises millions of children from poverty, and helps grow economies and support businesses.

Rather than strengthening this antipoverty program, the bill will take away--eviscerate, wipe out--benefits for the most vulnerable Americans, denying financial assistance for basic necessities, like rent and food, and eliminating an average of $1,800 from low-wage families per year.

The child tax credit was designed to help hardworking, low-income families meet the needs of their children, but this child tax credit bill harms these families and threatens the well-being of millions of American children. In reality, the bill does exactly the opposite of what the child tax credit was designed to do. In essence, you could really call it the ``Reverse Robin Hood Child Tax Credit'' bill--take from the poor, benefit the more affluent.

I urge that we vote ``no.''

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