Tax Policy

Federal tax policy accounts for more than 40 percent of all federal investments in America’s children. And federal tax initiatives like the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit lift millions of children out of poverty every year. But children are often an afterthought in congressional tax policy debates, and tax policies that shield children from poverty are consistent targets for political attacks. First Focus mounts an aggressive defense of tax policies that protect children and works with policymakers to build even better tax policies for children.

Resources


Child poverty drops to historic lows, Census reports

| September 13, 2022 |

Decline proves “child poverty is a policy decision” U.S. child poverty dropped to the lowest rate ever recorded, according to government figures released today,


The Family Security Act 2.0 Creates Winners and Losers

| July 8, 2022 |

Our children are facing some of the most challenging times seen in our nation’s history. America’s historically high rate of child poverty and significant


Watch: Studies show Children enjoyed more stable lives with pandemic aid

| April 20, 2022 |

Analysts from Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan have found that federal pandemic assistance helped close the persistent gap in material hardship for U.S.


One year ago, we proved that we know how to end child poverty — we can’t stop now.

| March 24, 2022 |

2021 was a landmark year for reducing child poverty in the United States. One-year improvements to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) included in the


Issue Brief: How Tax Credits Could Provide Transition-Age Youth Greater Financial Stability

| January 21, 2022 |

Who are Transition-Age Youth?  Transition-Age Youth (“TAY”) are teenagers and young adults between ages 16 and 24 who are making the transition to adulthood.


A Senate Majority Is Allowing Child Poverty to Nearly Double

| January 6, 2022 |

Former Secretary Robert Reich asks a very important question: Why has America chosen to dramatically reduce poverty among the nation’s elderly but not among our children?


WATCH: 4 working moms explain how the expanded Child Tax Credit will be a “relief” for their families

| July 15, 2021 |

Last week I had the opportunity to sit down with 4 working moms from West Virginia to talk about the new Child Tax Credit


WATCH: The American Families Plan: What does it mean for kids? | #ChildrensWeek2021

| June 14, 2021 |

Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona today urged viewers during the first event of Children’s Week 2021 to “be a voice for children” by writing


Letter: The first — and next — 100 days

| May 4, 2021 |

First Focus on Children sent the following letter to President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris congratulating them on the achievements of their


8 ways the American Families Plan offers historic progress for children

| April 28, 2021 |

The American Families Plan, released today by President Biden, may be the most important piece of legislation for children in our nation’s recent history.