Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and 19 of their Senate Democratic colleagues introduced the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act, legislation to make child care accessible and more affordable for working families.
“The average Nevada family spends $9,852 per year on child care, and the costs are similarly high across the country. For many middle class families this amounts to more than 18% of their income, placing a major burden on their financial wellbeing. No parent should be forced to leave the workforce or struggle to provide for their families because of these expenses. I’m proud to cosponsor this legislation which would ease the burden of childcare costs on working parents and ensure that our middle class families are getting the tax relief they deserve.”
The legislation is also cosponsored by U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Richard Durbin (D-Ill.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).
BACKGROUND:
Specifically, the Child Care and Dependent Credit Enhancement Act would:
- Make the full Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit available to most working families: This bill would make the full credit available to families with income under $120,000. The current phase-down of the credit begins at $15,000 of income.
- Put more money into a family’s pocket: The bill increases the maximum credit from $1,050 to $3,000 per child (age 0-13), up to $6,000.
- Ensure lower income families see a benefit: The bill would make the credit fully refundable to make sure those with the greatest need see a benefit.
- Retain the value over time: The bill would index benefits to inflation to ensure they keep up with ever-growing costs.
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