Bishop urges House to expand tax credit for children of poor workers

Published: 2007-11-08

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- The chairman of the U.S. bishops' Committee on Domestic Policy called on the House of Representatives to "make the well-being of poor workers and poor families with children a central priority" as they consider tax legislation. H.R. 3996, the Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007, would improve and expand the child tax credit, "an essential element of our national safety net," said Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, N.Y., in a Nov. 7 letter to members of the House. "Too often, poor families are overlooked in public policy debates," the bishop said. "While their voices are not always heard, poor people have compelling needs that should have a priority claim on our consciences and the choices made in Congress." Unless the changes in H.R. 3996 are enacted, "millions of poor and working families" would not be eligible for the refundable child tax credit because they do not make enough money to qualify, Bishop DiMarzio said. Without the changes families would have to earn more than $11,750 in 2007 to receive the credit, he said. The legislation before the House would lower the earnings level to $8,500 and remove the current inflation index.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .