Two progressive groups have launched a new initiative to urge the permanent extension and enhancement of the enhanced child tax credit program. They argue that Democrats must support the measure while Congress continues to debate its future amid ongoing spending negotiations.Fighting Chance for Families is a joint campaign of progressive think tanks Data for Progress (and Groundwork Collective). Leaders of both groups plan to promote polling and studies on the program in order to push for its extension. They claim it is both a policy and political winner for Democratic lawmakers as well as President Joe Biden.Democrats must pursue policies that create transformative change and are popular among voters. The Child Tax Credit is that policy, according to Sean McElwee (executive director of Data for Progress), in a statement. Fighting Chance for Families will be urging lawmakers to take advantage of the current political moment and push for this historic policy to become permanent.Officials involved in the initiative described it a war room for the extension of child tax credits.As part of the nearly $2 trillion pandemic relief package Biden signed earlier this year, the enhanced child tax credits will be available starting next month. This new benefit allows parents to receive direct payments each month for their children, instead of an annual lump sum. It also increases the amount each parent will receive, depending on their children's ages.Democrats celebrated the increased benefits as a way of significantly reducing child poverty, and a prime example the party's commitment to providing direct, tangible assistance to voters.The enhanced credits will be valid for one year. Fighting Chance for Families officials say that if the credit expires, Democrats will make a huge mistake.McKenzie Wilson, spokesperson for Fighting Chance for Families said that Democrats must show it if they want to be the party of transformative changes and run for office. The CTC's permanent expansion is an extraordinary opportunity to achieve this goal.Continue the storyBiden called for the extension of the child tax credits to be extended as part of his multi-trillion dollar American Families Act. The measure is being considered by Congress as part of a wide negotiation on spending plans. This could include a bipartisan agreement to invest hundreds or billions in infrastructure.Most Democrats believe that, regardless of any bipartisan agreement on infrastructure spending the party will have approval of Bidens Families Act via a budgetary maneuver called reconciliation. This would enable the bill to pass the evenly divided Senate without Republican support.Data for Progress polls show that most Americans support the extension. 56%, including 37% Republicans, are likely to vote in favor, while 36% don't.Data for Progress found that only 16% of Americans had heard much about the tax credit. Comparatively, 34% of voters said they had some knowledge about the tax credit, 33% stated they had only heard a few, and 18% claimed they had not heard anything about it.
