Tennessee Advocates Call for Extending Child Tax Credit

Pastors, Parents Call on Senators Hagerty, Blackburn to Take Action

As a result of the U.S. Senate failing to pass President Biden’s Build Back Better plan before the end of December, the Child Tax Credit payments that were a part of the American Rescue Plan ended in 2021. This means the extra cash will not be deposited in bank accounts unless there is legislative action. Now, a group of Tennesseans affiliated with the Southern Christian Coalition is calling on Senators Hagerty and Blackburn to take action.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Riggs, Pastor of Franklin Community Church, said:

“Making sure the expanded child tax credit continues in 2022 would move us closer to the core Christian value and belief that every human is made in God’s image and deserves to live a safe and healthy life. As both a Christian and a pastor, I believe in equity and justice for all, and by investing in all children across this state and the nation, we would move closer to that reality.”

“We saw in 2021 that the expanded Child Tax Credit led to the biggest cut in child poverty in decades, and lifted 3 million children out of poverty in July of 2021 alone, which is indeed something to celebrate,” said Rev. Dr. Donna Whitney, Pastoral Assistant at the Metropolitan Interdenominational Church in Nashville. “We need these child tax credits in order to help children across the country currently living in poverty. In Tennessee…