Child Tax Credit (Cong. Rec., July 15, 2021)
Summary
Congressional Record, Senate, page S4912, July 15, 2021, under Child Tax Credit. The speaker announces an intent to file cloture on the vehicle for a bipartisan infrastructure bill on Monday of the following week and sets a Wednesday deadline for the Senate Democratic caucus on the budget resolution. The speaker describes the emerging legislation in three categories (jobs, families and climate) and announces that monthly checks from the expanded child tax credit are starting. Under Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act, the speaker says it is time to end the Federal prohibition on marijuana and notes that support has grown to almost 70 percent.
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“Child Tax Credit (Cong. Rec., July 15, 2021).”
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S4912 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 15, 2021
of what Democrats are trying to We in the Democratic caucus heard manent, serious criminal record that
achieve this year through the Amer- from the President yesterday on the prevents them, inhibits them from
ican Jobs and Families Plan, helping budget resolution. The meeting was moving forward in their lives.
middle-class families stay in the mid- wonderful. The excitement was pal- Now, I am the first majority leader
dle class and breathe easier and helping pable. The opportunity to do so much to say it is time to end the Federal pro-
poorer Americans climb that ladder to good for so many American families hibition on marijuana, and as majority
get there. was in the air in that meeting. It was leader I am going to push this issue
And nothing—nothing—will do more exciting. And, as that happened, the bi- forward and make it a priority for the
to advance that goal than the bill we partisan working groups had many Senate.
are working on this year. The budget meetings on the bipartisan infrastruc- In short, the Cannabis Administra-
resolution agreed to by Democrats on ture framework as well. tion and Opportunity Act would help
the Budget Committee this week is the Today, I am announcing that I intend the Federal Government catch up with
first step down a long road toward en- to file cloture on the vehicle for a bi- what much of the country already un-
acting a transformational change in partisan infrastructure bill on Monday derstands, that we need to rethink our
our economy. It will allow us to pass of next week. Senators will have until approach to marijuana and end—end—
the most significant legislation to ex- Wednesday of next week before the ini- decades of overcriminalization.
pand support for American families tial vote on cloture on the motion to CHILD TAX CREDIT
since the era of the New Deal and the proceed. Madam President, on a final matter,
Great Society. If not quite Everyone has been having productive the CTC, I have a little chart here.
Rooseveltian in scope, it is certainly conversations, and it is important to Over the past 20 years, the cost of rais-
near Rooseveltian. It is dramatic keep the two-track process moving. All ing children in America has become lu-
change to help average families do bet- parties involved in the bipartisan infra- dicrously expensive. Everything—from
ter. structure bill talks must now finalize diapers to housing, to healthcare, to
The best way to understand the their agreement so that the Senate can college tuition—has risen in price,
emerging legislation is in three broad begin considering that legislation next some of it rather steeply and dramati-
categories: jobs, which will come week. cally.
through major infrastructure invest- And I am setting the same deadline, Wages, unfortunately, have not kept
ments; families; and climate. We are next Wednesday, for the entire Senate pace, putting strain—ever more
going to create thousands upon thou- Democratic caucus to agree to move strain—on American parents. The cost
sands of good-paying jobs by investing forward on the budget resolution with of childcare alone can be roughly
in infrastructure and the training and reconciliation instructions. The time equivalent to buying a new car every
apprenticeships that will help more has come to make progress, and we single year. That is a big burden for so
Americans, including many of those will. We must. many families.
who have been left out, get those jobs. CANNABIS ADMINISTRATION AND OPPORTUNITY The pandemic, of course, made life
We are going to expand and strength- ACT even harder on America’s families. So,
en the programs that support Amer- Madam President, now on another in the American Rescue Plan, Demo-
ican families and introduce new ones, issue, marijuana, 20 years ago, roughly crats made sure that it included a dra-
like paid family leave and a robust ex- a third of the population supported the matic expansion of the Federal child
pansion of Medicaid to cover vision, decriminalization of marijuana. Today tax credit, to give families a little
dental, and hearing. I salute Senator that number is almost 70 percent. Even extra help during the once-in-a-century
SANDERS for putting it on the map and deep-rooted South Dakota voted to le- crisis.
now making it a real possibility to
galize the adult use of marijuana. And today—today—I am very proud
happen. Americans’ perception of marijuana to announce that tens of millions of
And we are going to act on climate in
has, justifiably, changed, and it is time Americans are going to see extra
a bold and comprehensive way, to re-
that Congress caught up and reformed money land in their bank accounts, the
duce emissions, make our infrastruc-
our laws to reflect the popular wisdom first of monthly checks that will be
ture more resilient, and create the
and the science. So, yesterday, I joined disbursed through the expanded child
green jobs of the future to meet the
with Senator BOOKER, who has been tax credit. Let me say that again. Be-
President’s goals of an 80-percent re-
such a leader on this issue for so long, cause of this law passed by Senate
duction in dirty carbon that goes into
energy production and a 50-percent and Chairman WYDEN, who has been ac- Democrats—sadly, unfortunately, not a
overall reduction in the carbon we send tive on this issue as well, our Finance single Republican voted for this much
to the atmosphere. chairman, to introduce the Cannabis needed measure that will help the mid-
When Republicans held the majority Administration and Opportunity Act, dle class and the poor—a vast majority
in the Senate, unfortunately, their sig- which represents a monumental change of Americans, because of what we did,
nature legislative achievement was a because, at long last, it would take what we Senate Democrats did, will
massive tax break for corporations and steps to right the wrongs of the failed begin receiving a monthly check of $300
the wealthy. From one report I read, War on Drugs. It would remove mari- for each child under 6 years old, and
the top 1 percent got 83 percent of the juana from the Federal list of con- they will also receive $250 every month
benefits when the Republicans had trolled substances and expunge the for each child between 6 and 17.
power. What a difference when Demo- criminal records of those with low- Combined with the credits that apply
crats are in power. You know what the level marijuana offenses. next tax season, these payments total
top 1 percent got in the ARP bill? Zero. Many States are rapidly moving to- up to $3,600 for every child under 6 and
Nada. Nothing. ward legalization, including my home $3,000 for every child 6 to 17. In short,
God bless them. They are doing State of New York. The legislature did it will amount to a substantial and po-
great. They don’t need it. that in this past session. These States tentially life-altering tax cut—tax
Democrats, instead, are strength- show the potential for new industries cut—for American families.
ening the backbone of the middle class, that can give opportunities to long-for- If you are a middle-class mom or dad,
and that is what we are going to do in gotten entrepreneurs. Our law would this money will help defer the cost of
this jobs and family plan. American establish fair administration so small groceries, rent, childcare, and maybe
workers, American families are going businesses and communities of color diapers, if you have an infant. Boy,
can get their fair shake in the mari- they are expensive. I remember when
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
to benefit while we address the genera-
tional challenge of climate change. juana business. my kids were little, compared to today,
And as I have said from the start, And we would deal with the cost. You can spend that money on
Madam President—as I have said from expungement—the tragedy of a young something else if you need it, and it is
the start—the two tracks of infrastruc- person being arrested because they had going to go a long way to reducing the
ture are going to move in tandem. We a small amount of marijuana in their burdens that families face.
are making good progress on both pocket but, because of the historic It also helps those kids in poverty.
tracks. overcriminalization, they have a per- The expanded child tax credit will cut
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July 15, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4913
childhood poverty nearly in half. Four telling the world they have had For decades, nearly his entire career,
million American children, they ex- enough—had enough. They have had then-Senator Joe Biden was a reliable
pect, will be lifted. And when you are a enough of a regime that has stolen supporter of Hyde protections. One let-
child born into poverty, through no their dreams for decades. They have ter to a constituent read like this:
fault of your own, you may not have had enough of its stranglehold on infor- Those of us who are opposed to abortion
proper nutrition and food. You may not mation and on prosperity. They have should not be compelled to pay for them.
have proper education or healthcare or had enough of its intimidation and its But a couple of years ago, on the
housing. And, by the time you are 14 or repression. President’s campaign trail, our former
15, you are in a big ditch. Now, many, The past week’s demonstration in the colleague changed his tune. He let the
to their credit, climb out on their own, streets of Havana should represent a demands of the increasingly radical
but this will prevent so many from major turning point in the Cuban peo- left overcome a principle he had held
going forward into that ditch. ple’s movement toward liberation. The literally for decades.
So it helps the poor, and it helps the regime’s failed communist ideology has So earlier this year, the President’s
middle class. We are proud of that. saddled generations of Cubans with a budget request obligingly proposed
To all of America’s moms and dads, backward economy, inadequate serv- ending this longstanding protection.
check your bank accounts this week. ices, and no means of justice or dissent. Yet another way in which the adminis-
Check your bank account. You may Now, some naive Americans on the tration that sold itself as moderate and
not even know this is happening. If you left seem intent on once again running unifying is now spiraling way, way to
filed taxes in either of the past 2 years, interference for the Cuban regime. the left. And this week, the House is
or in both of them, and you qualify for They still buy the propaganda that following through.
the credit, you will see this money Cuba is a socialist paradise—paradise— In today’s Democratic Party, there is
automatically. If you didn’t file taxes with a model healthcare and education no room to dissent from the far left’s
in either of the past 2 years, you can go system that we should actually emu- culture war, even in the most modest,
online—irs.gov/childtaxcredit—and late. But the Cuban people see a dif- most longstanding, most widely pop-
sign up today. Let me repeat that, ferent reality: an open-air prison that ular ways.
folks, for you listening. Go to irs.gov/ communism has run right into the Senate Republicans are going to con-
childtaxcredit and sign up. It is very ground. tinue standing up for life, standing up
simple and easy to sign up, and as long Since the 1950s, the blight of Castro for taxpayers, and standing up for the
as your kids have a Social Security rule has driven many Cubans to flee to conscience rights of millions, millions
number, they can get it. the United States. Generations of im- of Americans who don’t want the gov-
Republicans have for a very long migrants and their descendants have ernment laundering their hard-earned
time claimed to be the party of tax lived out and are living out American money to abortion providers. Repub-
cuts, but when you read the fine print, dreams of prosperity, achievement, and
licans will stand with the majority of
it turns out that the Republican Party service. We are blessed to call them fel-
the American people, even if our col-
is the party of tax cuts for the wealthy low Americans.
As Senator RUBIO put it so well this leagues across the aisle have given in
and the well-connected. to the most radical voices.
Democrats are sending this check to week, ‘‘The only country on this planet
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
American parents for the child tax where Cubans are not successful is
Cuba.’’ Madam President, now, on one final
credit, $300 per month, courtesy of matter, earlier this week, new June
My hometown of Louisville is actu-
President Biden and Senate and con- figures further confirmed what work-
ally home to one of the largest Cuban-
gressional Democrats. Again, unfortu- American populations in any American ing families across America already
nately, every Republican voted no. city outside of Florida. In recent days, know all too well: Runaway costs are
And I want to give a lot of credit to hitting the American people where it
this vibrant community has rallied by
Senator BENNET of Colorado and Sen- hurts.
the hundreds in support of Cuban pro-
ator BROWN of Ohio and Senator BOOK- Sadly, this was 100 percent predict-
testers. As one of these fellow Ken-
ER of New Jersey and Senator WYDEN able. Even top Democratic experts, like
tuckians of mine put it, ‘‘The only
of Oregon and so many others who Larry Summers, warned that the jaw-
voice they have is us.’’
fought for this issue and helped make The brave men and women who have dropping $2 trillion that Democrats
it a reality that today is going to hap- taken to the streets in Cuba are de- borrowed and spent back in March
pen. manding freedoms they have been de- might unleash inflation and do more
So we say to the parents of America: nied their entire lives. They deserve harm than good.
Starting today, help—real help, signifi- our strong support. I am proud to co- The economy was already packed
cant help—is on the way, not just for sponsor a new resolution with Senator with dry powder. Households already
the wealthy, as the Republicans like to RUBIO and several other colleagues to had record savings. Supply chains and
give it, but for the poor and the middle communicate precisely that. inventories were already strapped.
class. APPROPRIATIONS American families did not need a grand
I yield the floor. socialist experiment. They just needed
Madam President, on another mat-
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER the government to let things finally, fi-
ter, this week, Democrats on the House
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- Appropriations Committee are doing nally, get back to normal.
publican leader is recognized. something so radical that it hasn’t But the President, the Speaker, and
CUBA
been done for decades. They are ad- the Democratic leader still slapped an-
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, vancing an annual funding bill that other $2 trillion on the country’s credit
throughout my career, I have been leaves out the Hyde amendment, the card, and it has bought us a level of in-
proud to amplify the voices of freedom commonsense prohibition on forcing flation that is unprecedented in recent
fighters around the world, brave men taxpayers to fund abortion. memory.
and women working to secure the Since the 1970s, abortion has claimed Costs for working families have shot
blessings of liberty that we enjoy here the lives of more than 60 million un- up. Inflation is running so hot that
in America. And I have repeatedly born children. But at the very, very even though American workers have
shone a floodlight on the oppressive re- least, the mainstream, bipartisan Hyde seen a 3.6-percent pay increase on aver-
gimes that stand in their way. I have amendment has ensured that tax- age since last year, it has been com-
championed the pro-democracy move- pletely swamped, wiped out and then
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
payers’ hard-earned money is not fun-
ment in Burma, the brave advocates neled into this brutal practice. some by inflation. In real terms, Amer-
for freedom in Hong Kong. A broad, bipartisan coalition agreed ican workers’ pay has actually gone
Right now, the loudest cries for lib- the American taxpayers should not be down—down—nearly 2 percent since
erty are coming from pretty close to forced to underwrite this nightmare. last July.
home. After enduring 60-plus years of And, by the way, a strong majority of So let me say this again. On Demo-
socialist tyranny just 90 miles from Americans still agree with that propo- crats’ watch, inflation has turned a 3.6-
American soil, the people of Cuba are sition. percent annual pay raise for Americans
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