Press Releases

Washington, DC --- Children's Defense Fund President Marian Wright Edelman today called on the House of Representatives to extend the child tax credit to 12 million children in working poor families left behind by the Bush Administration's $350 billion tax cut before pushing for more corporate tax breaks. With Congress scheduled to adjourn in the next couple of weeks, Edelman said time is running out to help children in families with incomes of $10,500 to $26,625.

"Congress needs to get its priorities straight," said Edelman. "Moving forward with more tax cuts to the wealthy and to corporations is like playing a bad Halloween joke. The wealthy get the treat while working families get the trick. The same House leadership that refused to extend the child tax credit to civilian and military families with incomes below $26,625 is now eager to reward corporations once again, with another round of tax breaks."

"In just a few weeks Congress will be going home for the year, and the House is still ignoring an earlier Senate proposal that would offset the cost of extending the tax credit to working families. Yet, the House seems eager to move forward with this ill-advised plan to add to our national debt by lining corporate pockets with lower taxes. Once again the House is leading the way in leaving millions of children behind," said Edelman.

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The mission of the Children's Defense Fund is to Leave No Child Behind and to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start, and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. CDF provides a strong, effective voice for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or speak for themselves. We pay particular attention to the needs of poor and minority children and those with disabilities. CDF educates the nation about the needs of children and encourages preventive investment before they get sick, into trouble, drop out of school, or suffer family breakdown. CDF began in 1973 and is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation and corporate grants and individual donations. We have never taken government funds.