WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Child Tax Credit in the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act will put more money in the pockets of working parents to help them raise America’s next generation, writes Executive Vice President of Students for Life of America Tina Whittington in a recent op-ed for the Daily Caller.

High prices on everything from groceries to rent is a major obstacle for young Americans looking to start or raise a family:

“Young families today face economic pressures that haven’t been seen in decades, starting with basic necessities such as food and shelter. For example, at the end of last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that ‘food inflation from 2021 to 2022 rose by 11.0%, the largest increase in food prices in over 40 years.’ 

For the more than 35 percent of the population who rent, most of whom are young people under 35 years old, homeownership seems like a far-away dream as potential savings go toward survival. Since the pandemic, rent for single-family homes has risen by over 35 percent, with overall rents rising by a similarly daunting 29.4 percent 

These financial pressures create serious barriers to starting a family. A majority of abortions take place among low-income families, and financial challenges are regularly cited as a driving factor behind this decision.”

The expanded Child Tax Credit in the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act is a pro-life solution that gives families the resources they need to raise their children: 

“Our lawmakers should address these challenges head on for the sake of strong families today and a strong nation tomorrow. They should strongly promote policies that support children and parents and reduce the financial burden of childbearing and childrearing, particularly in the months after birth when costs are high, and a child requires constant presence from their mother for health, attachment, and brain development — to name just a few benefits of this precious bond.

One of the most straightforward and bipartisan ways of addressing these challenges is by expanding the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Doubled through tax reform in 2017, the CTC is a lifeline to millions of parents, providing up to $2,000 per child in tax reductions and refunds… Supporting life holistically means advocating for parents to have the resources needed for their children to flourish.”

The Senate should pass the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act to provide working parents the help they need to build a stable family:

“It’s up to the Senate to finish the important work… As families take a leap of faith, let’s make sure they have the resources they and their children need to land on their feet.”

Read the full op-ed here.