Congressman Troy Carter Announces Benefits for Louisiana’s Kids and Seniors in the Build Back Better Framework, Shares Impact of Current Child Tax Credit

NEW ORLEANS, LA. – Today, Congressman Troy Carter highlights how the Democrats’ Build Back Better framework will meet the urgent needs of Louisiana’s kids and seniors in a new fact sheet, and how the expanded Child Tax Credit has already helped kids and families.

In the wake of the pandemic, high costs of child care, health care, home- and community-based care, early and higher education, housing, and more are hurting the most vulnerable in Louisiana and around the nation. The Build Back Better framework delivers transformative investments that will address these needs, while also ensuring that the wealthiest and big corporations pay their fair share.

“For far too long, Louisiana’s families have been held back by soaring costs – from child care to health care to education to the climate crisis and more,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. “Democrats’ Build Back Better framework – which we will soon enact into law – will deliver for the people in our state, with millions of good-paying jobs, historic middle class tax cuts and lower costs, so kids, seniors and families can thrive and succeed.”

A new report from the Joint Economic Committee estimated that 85,000 Child Tax Credit monthly tax cuts were sent to families in the Second Congressional District in the month of October. A total of $38.1 million in tax cuts went back in the pockets of southeast Louisiana families. 

Statewide, 541,000 monthly tax cuts went to families in October for a total of $229.5 million. The average tax cut per Louisiana household for October was $424.

Nationwide, the Joint Economic Committee estimates the Child Tax Credit tax cuts are pumping $19.3 billion into local economies each month, supporting local jobs and businesses. 

“This historic tax cut puts more of hardworking families’ own money back in their pockets so they can pay for child care, put gas in the car to get work, put food on the table, cover school expenses, spend money at our local businesses and continue to grow our local economy while building better lives for their families,” said Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr. “The expansion of the Child Tax Credit in the Build Back Better framework is just one of the many ways that the framework will change the foundation of America, especially for the youngest and oldest in our communities.”

Estimates from the White House show the following expected benefits to Louisiana’s kids and seniors under the Build Back Better framework:

• Child care: The average annual cost for child care in Louisiana is $8,205. The Build Back Better framework will expand access for 307,562 young children and ensure that no Louisiana family pays more than seven percent of their income on child care.

• Early education: Only 41% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Louisiana have access to publicly funded pre-K, while the average cost of private pre-K in the state is $8,600.  The Build Back Better framework will expand access to free, high-quality pre-K to 60,031 additional young Louisianians – setting these children up for lifelong success and saving their parents thousands of dollars.

• Health care: By closing the Medicaid gap, expanding Medicare to include hearing care and extending relief for insurance purchased through the ACA, the Build Back Better framework will help 87,000 uninsured people in Louisiana gain coverage. Additionally, 68,100 people who purchase coverage on their own will save hundreds on health insurance premiums each year.

• Lower taxes: Before Democrats secured the expanded Biden Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan, 19% percent of Louisiana children lived in poverty. The Build Back Better framework extends this life-changing tax cut and continues our historic progress toward reducing child poverty. The framework will also provide a tax cut of up to $1,500 in tax cuts for 281,900 low-wage workers in Louisiana by extending the American Rescue Plan’s Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) expansion.

Congressman Troy Carter continues to support passage of both the Build Back Better Act and the bipartisan “Invest in America” infrastructure package.

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