Republican lawmakers in the House have introduced a pro-family and pro-life bill called the Providing for Life Act (PLA), which aims to expand child tax credits. Congresswoman Ashley Hinson of Iowa introduced the bill as the House counterpart to a bill previously introduced by Senator Marco Rubio in the Senate.
The Providing for Life Act seeks to provide tax breaks to working families by increasing the refundable Child Tax Credit to $3,500 per child under 18 and $4,500 per child under 6. Currently, parents can claim up to $2,000 in tax credits per dependent child. The bill also retroactively expands tax credits to unborn children, allowing parents to claim the credit during the pregnancy.
In addition to expanding tax credits, the PLA proposes improvements to paid parental leave, expands Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program eligibility for postpartum women, enacts child support reform, and provides resources for pregnant women on college campuses.
The bill also aims to funnel Title X funding to pregnancy resource centers and increase protections for faith-based organizations that provide federally funded social services.
Notably, the Providing for Life Act requires parents to be employed in order to receive the credit, distinguishing it from Democrat-led efforts to expand child tax credits without work requirements.
By expanding the Child Tax Credit, empowering women, and providing access to community resources, the bill aims to protect the vulnerable, support families in need, and strengthen families overall, according to Rep. Hinson.
The Providing for Life Act is groundbreaking legislation that promotes a pro-life and pro-family culture in America.