Parents struggle as child tax credit hangs in the balance

NEWARK, N.J. (PIX11) - These are tough times for many, but they're even tougher for some, like Sherrilyn McPherson of Newark.

"It's absolutely frustrating," McPherson said. "You go to the grocery store and you just can't imagine you're spending $200-$300."

She is a single mom to a four-year-old daughter. She's keeping a close eye on a bill in Washington that she says would give her family a boost - by expanding the federal child tax credit.

"My hope is that it continues to be expanded not only capturing low and moderate-income families, but also working-class families," said McPherson.

The nearly $80 billion bill would increase the credit available as a refund, starting at $1,800 dollars for 2023 - up from $1,600 - going up to as much as $2,000 for 2025.

New Jersey Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (11^th District) visited Clinton Hill Early Learning Center in Newark Friday, continuing to push the bill which recently passed in the Republican-led House of Representatives in a solid bipartisan fashion.

"The majority agree that we really need to do more for families and for children, especially," said Sherrill.

According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a research institute that claims to be non-partisan, the expansion would impact 16 million children in low-income families in its first year. That number includes more than 320,000 children in New Jersey.

The Bill would look to lift 400,000 children above the poverty line nationwide in its first year and gently increase that number over the following two years.

"As far as how it gets through the Senate, it's unclear right now," said Sherrill.

Several U.S. Senators have expressed concerns over the long-term impacts of the bill and its cost.

"If not now, I think it is something we're continuing to push so we can have this bipartisan agreement on how we do better by children and families in this country," said Sherrill.