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Mr. BRADY of Texas. Mr. Speaker, first, I want to thank the leadership of Congresswoman Jenkins' on such an important issue for families.
We have two young boys. It is expensive raising kids--it just is--all across America. I don't care what you make or where you live. This is about making it a little easier to raise your children.
You have heard today that everyone is for the child tax credit except, of course, when they have to vote for the tax credit. Then you hear every excuse in the world.
Let's look at what this bill does:
First, it makes permanent this child tax credit so people can count on it. It is indexed for inflation, so that means, when your dollar buys less and less, you shouldn't be punished by Uncle Sam because inflation is going up. It is so families can more closely keep up with the real costs of raising their kids. It eliminates the marriage penalty so Uncle Sam doesn't punish you--so the Federal Government doesn't punish you--simply because you are married and are raising your children. We think it is important that married couples who are struggling to raise families aren't punished by Uncle Sam, and it makes sure more Americans can take advantage of this.
Here is what it doesn't do:
It doesn't include the same failed stimulus programs the White House brought down upon America. As you know, we were promised the economy would be roaring. America normally bounces back from tough economic times, but not this time. This is the worst economic recovery in more than half a century.
To President Obama's unfortunate example, the worst economic recovery in this President's lifetime is his economic recovery. We are missing almost $1.5 trillion out of our economy. We are missing jobs for 5.8 million people. To put that in perspective, if the President had, like an average President, just led a C-grade type of recovery, everyone looking for work in 44 States could have a job today.
Also, as a result of this very weak recovery, do you know what a family of four in America is missing each month from its wages? $1,120. That is $1,120 that should be in a family's pocketbook to pay the rent or utilities or food or all of that. It is missing today because of this poor recovery. Some people say let's stay the course and do more of it. This bill says, no, let's change course and get people back to work, and let's help them raise their children.
The final point I would make is of this provision, including the key antifraud provision by Congressman Sam Johnson of Texas. What we know is that billions of dollars each year are being sent to people whose children don't exist. Their children don't exist. Some of the children live outside the country. Others aren't eligible for this at all. Yet Washington sends them a check--your hard-earned tax dollars. They are people who don't deserve this. Congressman Johnson's provision says you will actually give us the Social Security number--an accurate one--of that child you are seeking the help for so that we make sure the money goes to those who are eligible for it.
I don't understand sort of the pro-fraud lawmakers who say we don't need to do this, and we don't need to save those dollars. The truth is, for as hard as you work for your money--for the dollars that are out of your paycheck each week or each month--and for what you pay on April 15, your money should go to help people who deserve the help, not to children who don't exist, not to families who don't exist. This is a critical part. It saves billions of dollars.
Let's help families raise their children. Let's help our tax dollars go to the people who actually need them, and let's save some money for Uncle Sam. This bill deserves our support.
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