Prairie State Wire

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) touted the American Rescue Plan as a way for 330,000 children in Illinois to be lifted out of poverty.

“Hundreds of thousands of children in Illinois will be lifted out of poverty with the expanded child tax credits in the American Rescue Plan,” Durbin tweeted April 6. “This support will make a huge difference for working families.”

The American Rescue Plan provides additional relief to address the continued impact of COVID-19 on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals and businesses.

The U.S. House of Representatives approved HR 1319 Feb. 27, while the U.S. Senate approved the $1.9 trillion federal relief package March 6.

President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan into law March 11.

A key component was the $1,400 stimulus checks distributed to millions of Americans, the third time such payments were approved by Congress since spring 2020.

The American Rescue Plan expanded the child tax credit from $2,000 to $3,600 for a child under 6 and $3,000 per older child, Central Illinois Proud reported.

Durbin said the tax credit is refundable, meaning that low-income people who do not have any federal tax liability will still receive the money, CIP also reported.

The senator said there is too much child poverty in America, and the expanded tax credits will provide much-needed relief to struggling families.

“What it means is a little bit more money, $250-$300 a month per child, and it can make all the difference in the world in terms of that child and how they’re going to be clothed and fed and where they’re going to live,” he said.