House passes tax reform including expanded child tax credit
Write your senators now
The House of Representatives passed a major tax reform bill by a 357-70 bipartisan vote on Jan. 31. The bill now goes to the US Senate. “The Episcopal Church celebrates the passing of this legislation and hopes the Senate will follow suit in continuing to provide aid for the most vulnerable communities,” wrote the Office of Government Relations on Feb. 1. “We are thankful to Rep. Smith and Senator Wyden for their leadership on this issue, and to all the members of the House who came together in a bipartisan way to provide additional resources to an estimated 16 million families.”
The bill would accomplish this by making a larger portion of the Child Tax Credit refundable, though families earning less than $2,500 a year would still be excluded. The ecumenical Hunger Network in Ohio estimates that 575,000 children in Ohio would qualify for this help.
Bread for the World, the leading Christian advocacy nonprofit working for food security, has provided this link to customize and send a letter to Ohio’s US Senators Vance and Brown.
The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act was negotiated by House and Senate members of both parties. As the New York Times reported, “The biggest benefits of the child tax credit would be for the poorest families, analysts said: The payments could bring nearly half a million children out of poverty [in 2025] and decrease poverty for five million more, by some estimates. Research has shown that families spend those extra dollars on food, child care and other basic needs.”
The bill allocates $33 billion to the child tax credit expansion, $33 billion to business tax cuts, and $6 billion in new funding for affordable housing tax credits, as well as tax relief for disaster victims. It would be funded by ending the pandemic-era employee retention tax credit.
During the pandemic, child tax credits were provided to households earning less than $2,500, contributing to a 35% reduction in child poverty, which rose again sharply after the emergency program expired. Nevertheless, increasing the portion of the credit which is refundable – essentially a negative income tax – would lift half a million American children out of poverty in 2025. The bill has bipartisan support in the Senate but is not guaranteed to pass.
General Assembly overrides veto of anti-trans bill
Offer resources and prayer support for Ohio youth
The Ohio Senate joined the House in voting to override Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto of HB 68, which will now go into effect prohibiting most gender-affirming care for trans youth in Ohio. Only youth who have already begun a course of treatment can continue.
Hunger Network in Ohio shared these resources and request: “ Equality Ohio is working to identify resources for families and trans youth who are in need of medical care. If you know families, please share these resources. We also ask congregations and faith communities across Ohio to name trans youth in your prayers in the coming weeks. These families and children hear that they are not welcomed in Ohio and do not belong. Let them know that they have community, love and support every chance you get.
LGTBQIA+ youth report:
- Nearly 1 in 5 transgender and nonbinary youth considered suicide last year.
- 60% of LGBTQIA+ youth who sought mental healthcare were unable to get it.
- 37% of trans and nonbinary youth report being physically threatened or harmed due to their gender identity.
- 42% of independently homeless youth are a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.”
County seat parishes: help get redistricting reform onto the ballot
As I’ve been reporting for several months, advocates for fair, representative districts are volunteering across the state to collect 800,000 signatures to ensure that enough are validated to qualify the Citizens Not Politicians redistricting reform amendment for Ohio’s November ballot. Ohio’s extreme gerrymandering is a major factor in our state legislature continually passing bills that run against the values and goals of the majority of Ohioans on issues including voter access, gun safety, protecting minority rights, and environmental protection.
“The Episcopal Church reaffirms that one person one vote means that the votes of all citizens of all races and ethnicities are fairly represented, counted and accounted for,” says Resolution 2018-D003 passed by General Convention. “We oppose any form of partisan gerrymandering which has the same effect of racial gerrymandering.”
If your congregation serves a rural or suburban community – particularly a county seat or college town, please email me if you can help! I’m attending Bishop White’s consecration and will gladly meet with you the night before at the convention hotel, or during the reception. My cellphone number is 513-236-9872.
We need volunteers to:
- Coordinate city-wide or county faith-based teams
- Circulate petitions (we’ll get you training via Zoom)
- Organize events
- Speak at events
- Do office work including validating signatures
Fair Districts Petition Circulator training
Upcoming dates Feb. 8 or 20, March 5 or 12
Fair Districts Ohio provides Zoom training for petition circulators at many different times of day. Here’s the upcoming schedule and a link to volunteer as a petition circulator or a speaker for events (which also requires training.)
Civic groups including the League of Women Voters, Common Cause, the A. Philip Randolph League, and the Ohio Environmental Council all support this campaign. Developed by a bipartisan citizen team including Republican former Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, the amendment would create a new process for redistricting that prevents elected officials – who have a built-in conflict of interest to preserve their partisan majority – from serving on Ohio’s Redistricting Commission. It would also create a far more transparent process.
Here are links to learn more:
- Fair Districts Ohio Redistricting Toolkit including redistricting basics, slide decks, talking points, recordings, and additional resources.
- Request speakers for your church, civic group, community council, etc.
Episcopal Church monthly online gathering for racial justice leaders Feb. 7 at 3 p.m.
Racial justice leaders and practitioners from dioceses throughout The Episcopal Church are invited to monthly Zoom gatherings to discuss issues, exchange best practices, and highlight impactful ministries. Register online to join the Feb. 7 meeting, featuring the Rev. Kathleen Walker, canon missioner for Black ministries for the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina. Future meetings are scheduled for March 6, April 3, and May 1, at 3 p.m. ET.
Advocacy briefings are compiled by Ariel Miller, a longtime community advocate and member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming. Connect with her at arielmillerwriter@gmail.com.
