Jenniffer González returns to promote dependent child credits and an income

Washington DC – Washington Resident Commissioner Jenniffer González today revived the projects that aim to have the federal government in Puerto Rico fully fund the Dependent Child Tax Credits (CTC) and Labor Income (EITC), which was last year Senate were discontinued federally.

The two projects – to be referred to the Ways and Means Committee chaired by Democrat Richard Neal (Massachusetts) – were co-sponsored by Puerto Rican Democratic Congressman Darren Soto (Florida).

The lower house approved these measures in 2020 in two comprehensive projects: the first aimed at reducing the damage caused by earthquakes in Puerto Rico; and then, as part of the first, the “Heroes” law, last May, to address the coronavirus emergency.

However, both measures were rejected by the Republican majority in the Senate.

Commissioner González said the first project will fully expand the CTC in Puerto Rico, which currently only benefits families with three or more dependent children on the island. Through the CTC, those families on the island can request a fee from the federal government of up to $ 2,000 per dependent child.

Commissioner González estimates that the full effectiveness of the CTC in Puerto Rico would benefit 355,000 families and 404,000 children.

Regarding the EITC, which wants to encourage work, Commissioner González estimated that the measure would make it possible to get an annual credit of between $ 300 and $ 8,500 on the island by adding the benefits offered by Puerto Rican law .

It is estimated that the EITC and CTC together could have an annual impact of $ 1.4 billion in Puerto Rico.

Commissioner González announced the presentation of the projects after being sworn in for a new four-year term on Sunday evening.

“Studies have shown that lifting people out of poverty is precisely one of the catalysts for moving the economy,” said the commissioner, who is holding a caucus with the Republican minority.

In the Senate, Democrat Robert Menéndez (New Jersey) and Republican Marco Rubio (Florida) introduced a bill in 2020 to fully fund the CTC on the island.

After being sworn in on Sunday, at the opening session of Congress 117, Commissioner González said she will also push for more food aid, an issue that has supported President-elect Joe Biden.

He also reaffirmed his intention to promote that the United States provide the island with a state, following the Nov. 3 Creole plebiscite in which that alternative achieved 52.5%. of the votes.

Governor Pedro Pierluisi has indicated that in this session the commissioner must submit a bill in favor of Congress that wants to provide the island with a state.

“I am confident that over the next 4 years we will be able to strengthen the ties to achieve full equality for all Puerto Ricans. I will again work in a twofold way to advance health, manufacturing and economic development issues for Puerto Rico, ”said the local commissioner.