Press Release
Economic Security Illinois Applauds Robust Child Tax Credit in Proposed Budget
05. 27. 2024
This CTC represents a significant investment in Illinois families, offering $150m over the next two years, and then an annual $100m permanently.
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Springfield, IL – Late last night, the Illinois Senate released a proposed budget which includes a robust Child Tax Credit (CTC) that would benefit hundreds of thousands of families, offering them an average of $300 to $600 credit for each family with children under the age of twelve. This CTC represents a significant investment in Illinois families, offering $150 million over the next two years, and then an annual $100 million permanently. This budget is anticipated to pass the House and be signed into law later this week.
Erion Malasi, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Economic Security Illinois responded with the following statement on behalf of the Illinois Cost-of-Living Refund Coalition:
“We commend Senate leadership for advancing a comprehensive state Child Tax Credit that will significantly benefit working families throughout Illinois. By working together with the Governor and legislative champions in the House, the proposed budget addresses families’ growing needs across our state in the face of the rising cost of living. This CTC is a major and meaningful investment that will benefit hundreds of thousands of Illinois families, empowering parents to buy essentials like groceries, diapers, or school supplies.”
BACKGROUND:
Advocates have been pushing for a Child Tax Credit credit for years in conjunction with allies in the House and Senate. This session, advocacy for a CTC was led by State Senator Omar Aquino, State Representative Marcus C. Evans, Jr., and other legislative leaders, including Rep. Mary Beth Canty and Senator Mike Simmons. In February, Governor Pritzker delivered a promising budget address which called for the creation of a statewide Child Tax credit that would return $12 million to taxpayers with children under age 3. The unified budget proposal goes beyond that, providing in the first two years $150 million to taxpayers with children under the age of 12, and then $100 million permanently, in all providing an average tax credit of $300 to $600 per eligible family, functioning as a boost through the Earned Income Tax Credit. If passed, taxpayers would reap the benefits of this CTC in this current fiscal year.
The Illinois Cost-of-Living Refund Coalition, which successfully led the fight for the Earned Income Credit expansion, is leading the advocacy effort for the Child Tax Credit. The coalition, led by Economic Security Illinois, includes more than 50 nonprofit, labor, consumer advocates, immigrant rights, and grassroots, community-based organizations across the state. (See list of member organizations below).
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Economic Security Illinois Action is an affiliate of Economic Security Project Action.
Economic Security Project Action mobilizes resources and people behind ideas that build economic power for all Americans. As an ideas advocacy organization, we legitimize our issues by supporting cutting edge research and elevating champions, win concrete policy victories for the communities that need to see change now, and provoke the conventional wisdom to shift what’s considered possible. Our team of academics, organizers, practitioners and culture makers disburse grants, run issue campaigns, develop creative interventions and research products to support the field, and coordinate events to encourage investment and action from others.
The Illinois Cost-of-Living Refund Coalition is dedicated to getting more money into the hands of Illinois families. Our 50+ members are composed of unions, community organizations, consumer protection groups, and nonprofits, including:
- Age Guide
- Brightpoint
- Caring Across Generations
- The Chicago Community Trust
- Chicago Jobs Council
- Chicago Urban League
- Chicago Votes
- Children’s Advocates for Change
- Citizen Action Illinois
- Community Organizing and Family Issues (COFI)
- Economic Security Illinois
- Economic Security Project
- Equity and Transformation
- Grassroots Collaborative
- Easter Seals of Greater Chicagoland and Rockford
- Greater West Town Community Development Project
- Heartland Alliance
- Hispanic Federation
- Illinois Action for Children
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
- Illinois Collaboration on Youth
- Illinois Families for Public Schools
- Illinois Nurses Association
- Illinois Partners for Human Service
- Illinois Public Interest Research Group
- Illinois Restaurant Association
- IUOE Local 150
- Latino Policy Forum
- League of Women Voters of Illinois
- LIFT- Chicago
- Metropolitan Planning Council
- National Association of Social Workers, Illinois Chapter
- The Network: Advocating Against Domestic Violence
- New America Chicago
- New Moms
- Parents Organizing to Win Educate and Renew – Policy Action Council (POWER-PAC)
- Raise The Floor Alliance
- Raising Illinois
- Service Employees International Union – Local 1
- Service Employees International Union – Local 73 Shriver Center on Poverty Law
- Small Business Advisory Council
- Small Business Majority
- Stand for Children: Illinois
- Start Early
- United Food & Commercial Workers – Local 881
- United Way of Illinois
- United Way of Metropolitan Chicago
- UpTogether
- Warehouse Workers for Justice
- Women Employed
- Woodstock Institute
- Worker Center for Racial Justice
- Young Invincibles