Rep. Susie Lee Hosts Press Conference to Discuss How the American Rescue Plan Will Help Working Families and Alleviate Child Poverty in Nevada
Watch the Press Conference Here
HENDERSON, Nev. – Today, Congresswoman Susie Lee held a press conference to discuss how the American Rescue Plan will help working families and alleviate child poverty in Nevada. Rep. Lee was joined by Tami Hance-Lehr, CEO and State Director of Communities in Schools of Nevada, Annette Dawson Owens, School Readiness Policy Director of the Children's Advocacy Alliance, and Janet Quintero, Director of Community and Government Affairs at United Way of Southern Nevada. Ashley Young, a parent, also shared how the expansion of the child tax credit will help her family.
The American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law by President Biden on March 11, includes additional relief of up to $1,600 per child through the Child Tax Credit. This expansion is expected to lift 40,000 Nevada children out of poverty.
"Here in Nevada, the expansion of the Child Tax Credit is expected to lift 40,000 children out of poverty," said Congresswoman Susie Lee. Not only is this kind of aid timely, but it's also historic. For the first time in a long time, millions of children across the country will be lifted out of poverty and allowed a stable, happy childhood.
"Before coming to Congress, I worked with students here in Nevada, and I can tell you firsthand that this is going to go a long way to improve the livelihoods of our kids. When kids are hungry or worried about having a roof over their heads, they can't focus on school, causing kids to fall behind. Our children are our future, and the smartest investment we can make is in them, which is just one of the many reasons why I am a proud supporter of the American Rescue Plan."
"High quality, comprehensive early childhood programs for 0-5 year-olds, provide a return on investment of 13%. Investment in children is an investment in our human capital," said Annette Dawson Owens, School Readiness Policy Director at the Children's Advocacy Alliance. "These early investments are critical to not only our children's future success but also lead to Nevada's work force recovery and ultimately the success of our families and communities."
"As one of the largest subgrantees of the Nevada Ready! Preschool Development Grant, a program that provides free or low-cost high-quality education to 3-5 year-olds in Nevada, we understand the positive impact the Child Tax Credit will have on Nevada families," said Janet Quintero, Director of Community and Government Affairs at United Way of Southern Nevada. "We urge local families to take advantage of programs like the Nevada Free Taxes Coalition, a non-profit that provides free tax preparation to those who qualify. Their team will help you determine all the tax credits you are eligible to receive. Visit nvfreetaxes.org for more information."
"A family's budget must be able to provide for nutrition, healthcare, after-school opportunities, and more," said Tami Hance-Lehr, CEO and State Director, Communities in Schools of Nevada. "These are all areas that stretched parents can now invest in with the support from the American Rescue Plan, and all areas that are profoundly connected to student achievement and academic success. When there is less stress in a household and families have what they need to thrive, our students can succeed. We see that in our program every day and we are so grateful to know that with the expansion of the Child Tax Credit, we will cut child poverty in half. It's a significant milestone and we applaud Congresswoman Lee and her colleagues in Congress for prioritizing this important investment in our families."
Rep. Susie Lee visits with students at Valley View Rec Center Preschool
Rep. Susie Lee speaks to how the American Rescue Plan will help working families and lift children out of poverty.