By KAREN MOMPER
Guest Columnist
How we support children reflects the kind of society we want to be. In Indiana, that question is urgent. Fifteen percent of Hoosier children live in poverty, and one in five struggle with hunger or inadequate nutrition – more than 285,000 kids statewide. These numbers show up in food banks, schools, and households where families are trying to keep up as the cost of living rises.
Many parents are doing everything right: working, budgeting carefully, and making sacrifices. Yet for too many families, wages still don’t stretch far enough to cover basic needs. Policies that help close that gap deserve serious consideration.
The Child Tax Credit (CTC) is one of the most direct ways the federal government supports working parents raising the next generation. Research shows it reduces child poverty and food insecurity and improves family well-being. When the credit was temporarily expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, it helped 2 million children out of poverty nationwide.
A bipartisan proposal recently introduced in the Senate by Senator Todd Young would strengthen the Child Tax Credit by allowing working parents to receive the full benefit starting with their first dollar earned. Under current law, many low-income families receive only partial credit simply because their wages are too low. This proposal addresses that flaw while maintaining a clear connection to work.
For families, the Child Tax Credit helps pay for everyday essentials – groceries, clothing, school supplies, and household bills. That kind of practical support can make a meaningful difference, especially for families living paycheck to paycheck.
Senator Todd Young deserves recognition for advancing the Strong Start for Working Families Act. This bipartisan effort makes a common-sense fix to strengthen the Child Tax Credit so that working parents can begin receiving the full credit starting with their very first dollar earned. Today, many low-income working families don’t qualify for the full benefit simply because their wages are too low. This proposal corrects that gap while keeping work at the center of the equation.
Thoughtful, pro-family policies like the one Senator Young has proposed are exactly what Congress should be focused on. I hope his colleagues will join him in passing the Stronger Start for Working Families Act, which supports work and helps Hoosier families – and families across the country – meet their basic needs.
Karen Momper recently worked in a director role at the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) after completing the Lugar Series for Excellence in Public Service. She is currently serving the community by donating her passion to a number of charitable causes.