WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) today, called on the House Republican Leadership to help 12 million American children by accepting the bipartisan Senate-passed child tax credit bill. The Senate child tax credit bill, that passed 94-2 in June 2003, will immediately give a child tax credit to 6.5 million American working families – families earning $10,500 to $26,625, including 262,000 military children.

Instead of helping military families and low-income working families, the House Republican leadership has saddled all Americans with more debt by insisting on the passage of an additional $80 billion tax break.

American working families need and deserve a child tax credit that will help them during these difficult economic times. For the first time in a decade, poverty is up and median household income is down for two straight years. According to new data from the U.S. Census, there are 1.7 million more people living in poverty in 2002 than in 2001. By passing the Senate child tax credit bill, we will be providing a needed benefit to all American families without continuing to mortgage the future of American children.

The following is her statement as written:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the motion to instruct conferees on the Child Tax Credit bill. It is time that this Congress proves to working families that we care about them and their children. We can do that by providing immediate payments to those families left out of the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation act.

“Mr. Speaker, you may wonder who exactly was left out of that bill. How about military families with personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other combat zones? What about more than half of the children of janitors and maids, cooks and other kitchen workers; farmers and farm workers; child care workers; nurses and secretaries; sales workers; bus, truck and cab drivers? These are the very workers that need our support.

“Now let’s look at who this bill benefited the most – the millionaires. The tax-cut legislation enacted in May created an average child tax credit increase of $615 this year for those who are lucky enough to meet the income requirements. However, tax filers with incomes of more than $1 million will receive an average tax cut of $93,500 this year!

“Twelve million children have been left behind because the Republican Leadership failed to include them in the child tax credit and they haven’t even received the $615 benefit!

“The families I am talking about are those with dedicated workers that put in full-time hours at minimum wage, pay taxes, and earn less than $26,000 a year. It is unfortunate that Republicans believe these forgotten children and families don't contribute enough to deserve a break. Actions like these leave me no doubt that their priorities are dead wrong.

“We must correct this injustice. While the House passed a child tax credit bill, we missed the chance to pass a clean bill that would immediately grant our nations' hard working families with an increased child tax credit. This initiative was a squandered opportunity to invest in our children and families.

“The House Leadership has exploited the child tax credit issue to pass even more tax cuts for their wealthy friends. Instead of bringing up the other body's child tax credit bill which would cost $3.5 billion with offsets to fully pay for it -- they passed a bill that costs $80 billion dollars, with no offsets, at a time when America's federal deficit will exceed $400 billion dollars!

“The Senate has handed us a bill that would have increased tax credits for 6.5 million taxpaying families months ago and I support their effort. That’s why I have introduced this motion instructing the conferees to adopt the Senate’s language and get money in the pockets of the working families that need it most. Even the President has come out in strong support of this clean legislation.

“Our priority should be putting money in the hands of working Americans. That’s the way to create jobs and build a strong economy. If we don't help our children now, how can we expect to strengthen our nation in the future?

“Mr. Speaker, the House's leadership failed our children and working families. I am disappointed that the leadership is refusing to address the real issue here. It is time to restore true compassion for our nation’s working families. Working families need to know that we have not forgotten them. I urge my colleagues to support this motion so we can pass on the child tax credit to those who need it most.

“Thank you. I yield back the balance of my time.”