wfn.org | ABCUSA: Medley Urges Bush Support for Child Tax Credit Benefits

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 6/20/03)--American Baptist
Churches USA General Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley has urged
President Bush to support legislation in the House of Representatives that
would restore child tax credit benefits missing from the House's current tax
bill.

In a letter sent June 18 Medley praised Bush for supporting the Senate
version of the bill that expanded the child tax credit for millions of
lower-class families.  In his letter Medley noted:

"Thank you for your moral and political leadership in support of the Senate
passed bill expanding the child tax credit for millions of lower-income
families. This legislation will correct the egregious omission of millions
of working families from the acceleration of the child tax credit in the
recently enacted tax cut bill.	Absent this correction, nearly 12 million
children in families earning between $10,500 and $26,625 will receive little
or no benefit from the $400 per child increase in the child tax credit
scheduled to go into effect this year.	

"It is my understanding that while you will work with the House and the
ideas of the leadership in that body, you believe that at its core what the
Senate has done is the right thing to do.  I agree and support you in your
efforts to see that the course the Senate has charted is followed in the
House.	To this end I encourage you to urge the House and its leadership to
support passage of H.R. 2392, which mirrors the Senate-passed Relief for
Working Families Tax Act of 2003.

"Moreover, it is my hope you will lead the fight in opposition to H.R. 1308.
Revisiting the child tax credit provision should not be used as an
opportunity to provide yet a new a round of tax cuts, with only a small
portion of those benefits going toward assisting the families of low-wage
workers, particularly when these cuts might saddle future generations with
an even greater burden of debt and force even deeper cuts to programs
critical to addressing the needs of families.  It is unconscionable to use
tax credits for low-income children as a vehicle for broader tax cuts that
may ultimately jeopardize health care, education and other programs vital to
children and families...."

Medley also joined ten other denominational and ecumenical leaders in an
appeal to President Bush to urge House leadership endorsement of restoring
the child tax credit benefits. 

In a letter sent yesterday, the leaders noted: "The National Council of
Churches urges you to call on the House leadership to restore the child tax
credit benefits that were dropped from the final tax bill.  You have called
faith-based groups 'soldiers in the armies of compassion.'  As faith leaders
we implore you to lead us in the fight for the children of low-income
families by interceding on their behalf.  Without your personal
intervention, this bill will surely die in Congress....  The faith community
was encouraged by the Senate's quick response to pass bipartisan
legislation, by a 94 to 2 margin, to restore the child tax credit benefits
that were dropped from the final tax bill; however, we have grave concerns
now.  We pray that you will demonstrate America's concern for every child by
urging the House to accept the Senate version of the bill without further
delay."

Joining Medley in signing the letter were: the Rev. Dr. Rev. Robert Edgar,
general secretary, National Council of Churches of Christ; Elenie K.
Huszagh, Esq., president, National Council of Churches of Christ; the Rev.
Dr. Clifton Kirkpatrick, stated clerk, Presbyterian Church (USA); Thomas
Jeavons, general secretary, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious
Society of Friends; the Rev. Ronald Brugler, president, The Swedenborgian
Church; the Rt. Rev. C. Christopher Epting, deputy for Ecumenical and
Interfaith Relations, Episcopal Church; the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding
bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; Bishop Melvin G. Talbert,
ecumenical officer, Council of Bishops, The United Methodist Church; the
Rev. Dr. Stan Hastey, executive director, Alliance of Baptists; and the Rev.
David L. Wickmann, president, The Moravian Church, Northern Province. 

K/2003ABNS/03ABN86

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org