Letter to the Editor by, Stefani Ritter

Congress has a lot of work to complete before the end of the year. That must include reinstatement of an expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC).

15% of households in Oregon reported income below the poverty line last year. The poverty rate in Klamath Falls is 23% meaning that over 1 in 4 residents of Klamath Falls live in poverty. These rates are dramatically higher than the rest of Oregon and the vast majority of residents living in poverty are children and adolescents; over 30% of children under 11 in Klamath Falls are living in poverty.

The CTC has been proven to reduce poverty rates. In 2021 CTC lifted 40% of children out of poverty. Since the payments expired last December, child poverty has increased, parents can’t work because they can’t afford childcare, and global inflation has made basic necessities more expensive.

Last year, we achieved an historic reduction in child poverty. We can do it again. I urge Rep. Cliff Bentz to reject any corporate tax cuts this year unless an expanded, monthly CTC for all low-income families is also included.

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