Springboard To Opportunities’ statement on The US House of Representatives passing the Build Back Better Act
This morning the House of Representatives passed the Build Back Better Act, the biggest investment our federal government has made in families in decades. Along with historic investments in affordable housing, childcare, and education access, this bill also extends the expanded Child Tax Credit for another year while maintaining its full refundability.
Over the last 6 months, you have heard us talk repeatedly about the value of the Child Tax Credit and the importance of these monthly, unrestricted payments to families. Over these past months, we’ve talked to hundreds of families who have been using these payments for school supplies, diapers, uniforms and shoes, and even being able to start saving for their child’s future. These payments honor the hard work that goes into parenting and child care and give value to caregivers who have historically been ignored or overlooked in our economy.
But even beyond these tangible outcomes we’ve seen, the Child Tax Credit, along with other pieces of the Build Back Better Act, finally recognize the voices and stories of families that have so often been overlooked by policymakers and community leaders. Families have been saying for decades that the current social safety net system was not working, and they had brilliant ideas and insights into what could make it better. Unrestricted cash payments, as opposed to limited vouchers and funds tied to paternalistic requirements, is a first step toward honoring the voices of families and showing that we trust them to make the best decisions for their own family.
While we recognize that there is still much work to be done both to bring the Build Back Together Act to signed legislation and in creating a truly inclusive economy that allows all families to thrive, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate and applaud the members of the House of Representatives who took this important first step in that direction.
We encourage you to take some time this weekend to celebrate along with us by reading and sharing some of the newest Front & Center columns and continuing to uplift the stories of women and families who will be benefiting most from this legislation.