On February 8th, 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, and American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling hosted a press event for the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit Day of Action.
Sperling opened the event by giving the history of the Child Tax Credit and an overview of the accomplishments of the expansion in the American Rescue Plan. He noted that the expansion was successful, and that Biden/Harris administration remains committed to seeing the policy reinstated.
Vice President Harris was introduced by Sharron Holquin, a DC resident and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) volunteer. Madame Vice President spoke to the difficult times facing working families and the need for “a little help; a hand up, not a handout.” She focused on how families have used the CTC payments: for food, daily expenses, debt relief, and saving for college. Finally, she called on local governments, organizations, houses of worship, and citizens to help get the word out that families need to file a tax return to receive the second half of the CTC money they are owed.
Secretary Janet Yellen echoed the remarks of Sperling and Harris, stating that the CTC expansion is one of the most promising anti-poverty strategies available, reducing poverty and food insecurity for millions of families last year. She remarked that it represented a “nation-wide sigh of relief,” sorely needed amidst rising inflation and a national mental health crisis. Finally, Merici Vinton demonstrated how simple it is to use ChildTaxCredit.gov to claim the CTC.
