Congressman Platts Introduces Legislation to Put More Money Back in the Hands of Poor Working Parents

Platts says legislation is Pro-Work and Pro-Child

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Todd Platts (PA-19) introduced H.R. 2708 late yesterday, legislation designed to put more money back into the pocketbooks of low-income families by making the recently-expanded Dependent Care Tax Credit (DCTC) refundable. This means an additional $1,050 or $2,100 will be back in the hands of poor parents – many of whom are single mothers – who are working hard to stay off welfare and create a better future for their children.

The legislation will also make recent expansions to the DCTC permanent. The expansion of DCTC, which is designed to offset the cost of child care or the care of disabled dependents for working parents, was a little-noted but important provision in the recent tax cut. The provision increases the tax credit from 30% to 35% of costs beginning in 2003, and also increases the total amount of expenses that can be claimed from $2,400 to $3,000 for one dependent and from $4,800 to $6,000 for two or more dependents. However, these recent changes are temporary, and set to sunset in 10 years. The legislation introduced by Congressman Platts would make them permanent.

“The DCTC is pro-work and pro-child,” says Congressman Platts. “We have a responsibility to assist poor parents who are working hard to provide for themselves and their children. Making permanent changes to child-care assistance costs shows them in a tangible way our desire to help them be both successful workers and successful parents.”

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