By Gene Mills, Louisiana Family Forum president
BATON ROUGE, La. (LBM) – Public policy matters, especially regarding the health and growth of families, the basic building block of any flourishing society.
As we have seen throughout history, as goes the family, so goes the culture. Unfortunately, for too long this fundamental principle has been more of a talking point than a driving force when it came to tax policy in Washington.
However, as recently as 2017 the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), was enacted, making sweeping changes to tax policy. But it was the re-prioritization of the family in it that was the most significant accomplishment.
Two provisions made an immediate impact on working families—a doubling of the Child Tax Credit (CTC) from $1,000 per child to $2,000 and an Employer Tax Credit (ETC) for businesses which offer Employee Paid Family Leave (45S). Further, both provisions are prime examples that it is possible—even essential—to promote strong family policy through reasonable tax policy. Both the CTC and the ETC are overwhelmingly supported by voters on both sides of the aisle, and both have proven to be essential support for families during the unpredictable inflation during 2017-present.
Now Congress is considering how to extend many of the provisions of TCJA that will end on the last day of 2025—including the CTC and the ETC for Paid Family Leave. The House Ways and Means Committee just approved its draft of the bill, which increased the top line CTC to $2,500 for four years and made the current $2,000 top line permanent and indexed to inflation to prevent future devaluation. The House Ways & Means bill also strengthens and makes the employer tax credit permanent for family paid leave (45S).
Some leaders have even proposed raising CTC to $5,000 per child, which would indicate Washington does indeed prioritize children and working families.
Louisianans strongly support making family policy a priority for those who benefit most — our schools, communities, employers, and society as a whole. Consequently, we urge our leaders in the nation’s capital to translate their positive rhetoric into strong policy and enact the Child Tax Credit and Paid Family Leave Employer Tax Credit.
As goes the family … the undeniable building block of any flourishing society …. so goes the culture.
The time to act is now.
Gene Mills is president of the Louisiana Family Forum, a pro-life and pro-family public policy think tank.
