In a recent ... article, Sen. Sinema says that a key to the recent infrastructure bill passing was a “laser-like focus on the issues that matter most to everyday Americans.”

She should now focus that laser on passing the Build Back Better plan, which is more popular with the American people and needed just as badly as the infrastructure bill.

The House passing BBB in November was a major step forward, but now we need the Senate to finalize this historic investment. Build Back Better, among other benefits, extends the new Child Tax Credit payments, which has already lifted more than 3 million children out of poverty and helped millions of families pay the rent, put food on the table, find child care, and more.

As an educator in a Title I school in West Phoenix, I have heard from many families what this assistance has meant to them this year.

On Dec. 15, the next monthly CTC payment went out to American families. If the Senate does not pass BBB this month, it will be the last, forcing millions of children — many of whom are my students — back into poverty in January. There is too much on the line for Congress to fail. And the clock is ticking.

The Senate must pass BBB now because Arizona’s students deserve better. I strongly urge our senators, Sen. Sinema and Sen. Kelly, to demand immediate consideration of the Build Back

Better Act and to vote yes when it comes to a vote.