I am an educator in west Phoenix.

As we’ve started to prepare for the new school year starting in a couple of weeks, we have heard from families and staff concerns about safe and affordable housing, being able to afford transportation to school and child care, and so on.

If we are truly a country that cares about its children, Congress would pass the expanded Child Tax Credit.

The 2021 CTC expansion with monthly payments was nothing less than extraordinary.

After payments began in July 2021, child poverty dropped by 40%, food security increased, and families finally made ends meet.

Frustratingly, Congress allowed these payments to expire in January. Child poverty has skyrocketed, especially with inflation now driving up rent, food, and gas prices.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, has now proposed a new “child allowance” similar to the expanded CTC. This is encouraging, but his credit still excludes the lowest-income children.

Our kids and families need help now. I urge Sens. Sinema and Kelly to pass an expanded CTC that reaches the lowest-income families with monthly payments now.