A Safety Net for American Children

<p>Even as recently as a year ago, even the most cleareyed analysts thought it was a long shot. But this week, a child tax credit is expected to be passed into law, as part of the economic stimulus bill.</p><p>The child tax credit is an income guarantee for American families with children. It will provide a monthly check of up to $300 per child — no matter how many children.</p><p>We look at why this provision is so revolutionary and what has changed in the policy landscape to allow its passage.  </p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/jason-deparle?smid=pc-thedaily">Jason DeParle</a>, a senior writer for The New York Times and frequent contributor to The Times Magazine. </p><p><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/signup/NTTD?smid=pc-thedaily">Sign up here</a> to get The Daily in your inbox each morning. And for an exclusive look at how the biggest stories on our show come together, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/newsletters/the-daily?module=inline">subscribe to our newsletter</a>. </p><p>Background reading: </p><ul><li>The $1.9 trillion pandemic relief package moving through Congress advances an idea that Democrats have been nurturing for decades: establishing a<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/us/politics/child-tax-credit-stimulus.html?searchResultPosition=5?smid=pc-thedaily"> guaranteed income for families with children.</a></li><li>What’s in the stimulus bill? Here is<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/07/us/politics/whats-in-the-stimulus-bill.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article?smid=pc-thedaily"> a guide to where the money will be going</a>. </li></ul><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily">nytimes.com/thedaily.</a> Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p>