>> NOW A DEEPER DIVE ON THE
COVID RELIEF BILL.
ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT
PROVISIONS COMES IN THE FORM OF
BOLSTERING THE CHILD TAX CREDIT
WHICH COULD REDUCE CHILD POVERTY
IN THE UNITED STATES BY UP TO
50%.
MARISA WOJCIK HAS MORE ON THIS.
>> THE HISTORIC $1.9 TRILLION
COVID-19 RELIEF BILL DUBD DUBBED THE
AMERICAN REST RESCUE PLAN MAY RESCUE
FAMILIES WITH THE TAX CREDIT.
FAMILIES WILL GET UP TO $3600
FOR EVERY CHILD UNDER SIX.
FOR HOUSEHOLDS WITH ONE PARENT
EARNING LESS THAN $75,000 OR
COUPLES EARNING LESS THAN
$150,000, TARGETING MANY MIDDLE
AND LOW-INCOME FAMILIES.
>> THIS IS GOING TO BE A
BROAD-BASED BENEFIT THAT HELPS
MOST CHILDREN IN WISCONSIN.
SO EVERYBODY IS GOING TO SEE A
LIFT FROM THIS.
IT WILL BE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT
TO FAMILIES WITH LOW INCOMES WHO
ARE STRUGGLINGLE TO MAKE ENDS
MEET.
>> WE KNOW THAT WOMEN IN
PARTICULAR WHO HAVE BEEN HURT
BECAUSE OF LACK OF CHILD CARE,
LOW-WAGE SERVICE JOBS, WHICH ARE
PARTICULARLY AFFECT MINORITIES.
>> WOMEN LIKE TINESHIA CAMPBELL.
>> MY NAME IS TINESHIA CAMPBELL.
I HAVE TWO BEAUTIFUL KIDS, 12
AND 10, BOY AND GIRL.
>> AT THAT NISHA AND HER
CHILDREN LIVE IN PUBLIC HOUSING
IN MADISON AND SHE WORKS AT A
GAS STATION.
THINGS GOT TOUGH WHEN THE
PANDEMIC HIT.
>> IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS REAL
STRESSFUL BECAUSE HOURS WERE CUT
SO MY PAY WAS CUT.
BUT THE BILLS DON'T GET CUT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?
THE KIDS STILL HAVE TO EAT.
YEAH.
SO IT WAS STRESSFUL IN THE
BEGINNING.
>> IT'S HARD TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
WE SEE THE LINES AT THE FOOD
BANKS AND WE SEE THE FOODSHARE
WAS UP 22%.
SO THOSE PARTICULAR FAMILIES
WERE HURTING THEN ARE MOST
LIKELY TO BE WORKING NOW.
>> SHE MADE IT WORK WITH HELP
FROM A FOOD PANTRY AND TEMPORARY
INCREASE TO FOODSHARE BENEFITS.
BUT THE WAY THE NEW CHILD TAX
CARE IS STRUCTURED WOULD MAKE A
BIG DIFFERENCE, ENSURING SHE
RECEIVES THE FULL REFUND AND
DON'T HAVE DIFFERENT BENEFITS
COUNT AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.
>> IF YOU EARN AN EXTRA DOLLAR
RIGHT NOW AND YOU'RE LIVING IN
PUBLIC HOUSING OR RECEIVING SNAP
BENEFITS, THEY'RE GOING TO
REDUCE YOUR SNAP BENEFITS,
THEY'RE GOING TO INCREASE THE
RENT YOU PAY.
THE CHILD TAX CREDIT DOESN'T
WORK THAT WAY.
THERE'S NO CLAWBACK.
>> AND IT WON'T BE A LUMP SUM
COME TAX SEASON.
STARTING IN JULY MONTHLY
PAYMENTS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED
DIRECTLY TO FAMILIES.
>> OH, IT WOULD BE AMAZING.
BILLS WOULD BE ON TIME.
YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO FIGURE OUT
LIKE AM I GOING TO PAY FOR THE
KIDS TO BE ABLE TO GO TO SCHOOL
WITH THE INTERNET OR SHOULD I
WORRY ABOUT THE FOOD?
LIKE SO YOU -- THAT WOULD
DEFINITELY HELP A LOT.
>> EXPERTS SAY THE EXPANDED
CHILD TAX CREDIT ALONG WITH
OTHER MEASURES IN THE STIMULUS
PACKAGE COULD ALLEVIATE CHILD
POVERTY 40% TO 50%.
HOWEVER, THE FUNDING IS
TEMPORARY.
>> MOST OF THE OTHER PARTS OF
THE COVID RELIEF BILL ARE
TEMPORARY.
THE CHILD TAX CREDIT PART IS ONE
YEAR.
AND SO WE WILL HAVE TO ASK
OURSELVES WHEN THIS IS DONE IF
IT HAD THE TREMENDOUS IMPACT
THAT WE'RE ANTICIPATING.
>> HAVING EXPERIENCED
HOMELESSNESS, SHE HOPES TO BE
ABLE TO EVENTUALLY SAVE FOR HER
CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
>> I JUST THINK IT'S AMAZING
THAT YOU CAN GIVE YOUR KIDS THAT
LEG UP AND LIKE ESPECIALLY NOW,
YOU KNOW, THEY CAN GET THE MONEY
WHEN THEY'RE 18, 21, 25.
THEY CAN USE IT FOR CLEFNLG, COLLEGE, FOR
BUSINESS, FOR NECESSITIES AND
DON'T HAVE TO ASK PEOPLE FOR
HELP.
>> FOR "HERE AND NOW,"