Media Contact: Allie Wright, [email protected], (202) 794-1823

Washington, D.C. (September 27, 2017) – Mark Shriver, president of Save the Children Action Network, issued the following statement today on the release of President Trump and congressional Republicans’ tax reform plan:

“While we are pleased that the tax reform plan released today proposes to increase the child tax credit, which will help some families, we must do more to help middle-income and low-income parents afford the soaring costs of high-quality child care. We are concerned about the potential elimination of tax incentives for child care and early education, particularly when improving the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) by making it refundable could benefit the Americans who need it most.

“In many states, it’s now more expensive to pay for child care than for in-state college tuition, putting the cost beyond the reach of too many low- and middle-income families and placing these children at an unfair disadvantage. Access to high-quality child care helps children – especially those living in poverty – get a strong start in life. From preparing kids for kindergarten to higher graduation rates, quality child care can transform lives. And it can help strengthen the economic security of families by enabling parents to work full-time.

“As negotiations proceed on the tax bill, I urge the Administration and Congress to include a bipartisan tax proposal that would help working families afford the rising cost of child care. Legislation like the Promoting Affordable Childcare for Everyone Act, or PACE Act, which is supported by Republicans and Democrats in both the House and the Senate, would modernize the tax code by making sure more families can benefit from the existing child care tax credit.

“We will work with members of both parties to convince other members of Congress and President Trump to include this legislation as a vital component of tax reform because parents deserve a break, and all kids deserve an equal opportunity to thrive.”

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Save the Children Action Network is the political voice for kids. We believe that every child deserves the best start in life. That’s why we’re building bipartisan will and voter support to make sure every child in the U.S. has access to high-quality early learning and that no mother or child around the globe dies from a preventable disease or illness. By investing in kids and holding leaders accountable, we are helping kids from birth to age five survive and thrive. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.