As a policy, the 2021 expansion was historically successful, cutting child poverty nearly in half. But it died by politics this year. Can it be revived in 2023?

U.S. lawmakers unveiled a sweeping $1.7 trillion government spending bill. Still, they managed to exclude some popular provisions.

Some Democrats hope to get a revived version of the popular policy into a government funding package. Here’s what needs to happen in the coming days for this plan to succeed.

The expanded tax credit, which Congress let expire, helped dramatically reduce child poverty.

The expanded child tax credit lifted millions of kids out of poverty, but Congress failed to extend it. Now the Colorado senator is facing the difficulty of running on an expired policy.

The federal government is pretty good at handling the unique problems of seniors. Why don't we do the same for parents and kids?

The West Virginia senator shut down talk of extending the expanded credit in the reconciliation bill, but some in Congress see hope in future negotiations over a tax package.

The senator from Washington state hopes to address the urgent needs of working families—and shift perceptions of a Democratic Party that’s struggled to fulfill its promises.

Inflation, abortion rights, and rising childcare costs are the kinds of issues that motivate women to vote. But which party will they support once they get there?

As the midterms loom, the recipients of the now-expired benefit are turning against Democrats.

The poorest Americans are feeling the biggest squeeze from rising prices. Alas, Congress allowed a program that might have helped them to expire last year.

A fiscal crisis is looming for the childcare industry, and the Democrats don’t have the votes to do anything about it.

Families with school-age kids have borne the brunt of the pandemic. Will they make themselves heard at the ballot box?

Why did the West Virginia senator kill the biggest expansion of the social safety net since LBJ’s Great Society?

Senator Mitt Romney’s child allowance proposal may offer a basis for future bipartisan negotiations.

The California representative says Build Back Better needs to get pared down to some urgent essentials.

The worst political fight is the one you never start.

“If we’ve already been lifting people out of poverty, why for heaven’s sakes would we want to throw them back in poverty?”

With Build Back Better stalled, the final payments went toward savings, childcare, and a few Christmas gifts.

Democratic lawmakers will return from the holidays with a long list of uncompleted chores and unresolved issues.