Top line

As the Biden administration prepares to release its massive “Build Back Better” plan next week, which will focus on infrastructure and American workers, a group of 41 Senate Democrats are calling on the president to make certain pandemic relief tax cuts permanent .

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)

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Key factors

In a Friday letter to President Biden, Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Cory Booker (DN.J.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) And others urged the government to do so To Do Make the temporary child tax credit and earned income tax credit extensions approved by the US $ 1.9 trillion rescue plan permanent in future recovery plans it approves.

Biden’s upcoming proposals would only extend the extended credit for a few years, the Washington Post reported last week.

The president cannot unilaterally lower or raise taxes without Congress – that is, the permanent extensions will need enough legislative support in a tightly divided and highly partisan Senate to overcome a filibuster (60 votes), or if the proposal is in the Special budget is included reconciliation process achieve a simple majority (51 votes).

Crucial quote

“No recovery will be complete if our tax law does not provide a lasting path to economic prosperity for working adults and families,” the senators wrote. “Your upcoming recovery plan is the opportunity to make the extension of these loans permanent.”

Key background

Under the American Rescue Plan, eligible parents receive $ 3,000 for each child ages 6-17 and $ 3,600 for each child under 6 years old with the new child tax credit (from $ 2,000 per dependent child up to age 16) . Half of that money is supposed to be sent out in advance in a series of payments in the second half of the year, with families being able to claim the rest on their tax returns the next year. Democrats also made the loan fully refundable to make it more accessible to those on the bottom end of the income spectrum. The expanded earned income tax credit nearly tripled the maximum benefit for childless applicants from $ 534 to $ 1,502, and expanded eligibility requirements to include those under 25 and those over 65. The renewal of both credits will expire after one year unless Congress acts to extend them or make them permanent.

Big numbers

83 million. As many children live in households that would benefit from the Child Tax Credit as was spent on the American Rescue Plan, the esteemed Institute for Taxes and Economic Policy. The expanded earned income tax credit is expected to reach 17 million low-income adults, according to the Center for Budgetary and Policy Priorities.

What to look for

President Biden plans to unveil his multi-billion dollar infrastructure plan in Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

further reading

Covid-19 Recession: 10 Key Numbers That Summarize America’s Economic Crisis A Year Later (Forbes)

How Much Money Are You Getting from Stimulus Checks, Unemployment Benefits, and Everything Else in Bidens $ 1.9 Trillion Relief Bill (Forbes)?

Here’s everything you need to know about the new Extended Child Tax Credit (Forbes).

$ 1,400 Stimulus Checks Already Work As Loan, Debit Spending Up 45%, Says BofA (Forbes)