“Before the expanded credit roughly half of Black and Latino children, and half of children living in rural areas, got less than the full credit because their families’ incomes were too low,” reads the letter. “If the credit is made fully refundable, these children would receive the full credit amount.”
The letter’s authors invoke a passage from the Gospel of Matthew in which Jesus tells his followers to care for the “least of these.” The letter also chides lawmakers for considering tax cuts for corporations while demurring on efforts to combat child poverty.
“It is simply wrong to prioritize tax breaks to corporations over tax breaks for poor and middle class families,” they write.
Other faith groups have rallied behind the child tax credit, including the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Last week, the group sent a letter to Congress celebrating the expanded version of the credit and urging lawmakers to prioritize the poor.
“Especially in this moment of economic uncertainty, we urge you to take action to ensure the progress made in the fight against child poverty this past year is not lost and that we build on these gains,” the bishops’ letter reads.
Leaders of the Poor People’s Campaign, a faith-led activist group that often advocates for liberal-leaning legislation, have lauded the child tax credit and lambasted Manchin for proposing work requirements. In September of last year, campaign co-chair the Rev. Liz Theoharis condemned tying the credit to work requirements as a “regression back to the tired debate of deserving and undeserving poor.”
This article originally appeared here.
