Watch Brown’s Facebook Town Hall HERE. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last night, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) laid down a marker as the Senate discusses potential tax legislation this Fall, saying Congress should not pass any tax legislation that does not put money in the pockets of working families. Brown made the pronouncement during a Facebook town hall with Katie Walden, a mother who started her own in-home childcare business due to the struggles parents like her face keeping up with the cost of living expenses like childcare.

Brown and 45 Senate Democrats have offered the Working Families Tax Relief Act, which would expand  the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). EITC and CTC are two of the most effective tools to put money in the pockets of working people and pull children out of poverty. Expanding them will give millions more Americans a foothold in the middle class. 

“We have an opportunity this fall to do the right thing for workers and families,” Brown said. “We know that Congress is interested in passing another tax bill – we have to unite around one clear message: No tax bill that doesn’t put more money in the pockets of working families.”

The Working Families Tax Relief Act would also allow workers to draw a $500 advance payment on their EITC so that families aren’t forced to turn to predatory payday lenders when the car breaks down or other unexpected expenses come up.  Payday loans are generally made to individuals who are working and often eligible for the EITC. The average payday loan is about $375. 

The Working Families Tax Relief Act would:

  • Boost the incomes of 46 million households and 114 million people, including 43 million children. 
  • Lift 7 million people out of poverty, including 3 million children. 
  • Expand the EITC for families with children by roughly 25 percent. 
  • Allow workers to draw a $500 advance payment on their EITC so that families aren’t forced to turn to predatory payday lenders when the car breaks down or other unexpected expenses come up. The average payday loan is about $375.
  • Significantly expand the EITC for workers without children and make the credit available for people starting at age 19 up to age 67. Currently, workers without children can be pulled under the poverty line by taxes. Expanding the EITC would fix that.  
  • Make the CTC fully refundable, so the more than 26 million children who were left out of the Trump tax law get the support they deserve. 
  • Create a Young Child Tax Credit to provide extra support to children five and under, when research says they need it most.  

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