Bill · S. 1393· Senate(119-S-1393)
American Family Act
- Introduced
- 4/9/2025
- Last activity
- 4/9/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- Sponsored by
- Michael Bennet
- Cosponsors
- - 42 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The "American Family Act" aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create a refundable child tax credit that is paid out in monthly installments. This new credit provides monthly allowances for specified children, with higher amounts for those under age 6. The bill also establishes a $500 credit for certain other dependents. To facilitate these monthly payments, the bill creates a system of presumptive eligibility and an online information portal. Income-based limitations and reductions are included to adjust the credit amount based on a taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income.
Yes· 3 of 6
Would children be better off under this?+9
The bill provides direct financial benefits specifically targeted at children through monthly allowances.
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?+8
The refundable credit provides essential liquidity and support for low-income families.
Is this likely to lift people out of poverty?+8
The refundable monthly credit provides a significant safety net to reduce poverty among families with children.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Monthly Financial Support for Families: The bill establishes a monthly specified child allowance, providing $300 for children age 6 or older and a higher amount for those under age 6 (Section 24A(b)(1)).
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Increased Support for Young Children: For children who have not yet attained the age of 1 month, the allowance is increased to 800 percent of the standard amount (Section 24A(b)(1)).
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Credit for Other Dependents: Taxpayers can receive a $500 credit for each specified dependent who is not a specified child (Section 24B(a)).
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Protection of Benefits from Legal Actions: Monthly advance payments are protected from reduction or offset by certain Federal taxes, and they cannot be subject to garnishment, attachment, or bankruptcy laws (Section 7527A(h)(4) and (5)).
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Support During Hardships: Taxpayers facing domestic violence, serious illness, or natural disasters may be eligible for one-time payments to cover months where they were unable to establish eligibility (Section 7527A(g)(2)).
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Ease of Access for New Parents: The bill directs the Secretary to create procedures for the automatic establishment of eligibility for parents of a child born during a calendar month (Section 7527A(c)(3)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
-
Reductions Based on Income: The monthly child tax credit is subject to reductions if a taxpayer's modified adjusted gross income exceeds certain threshold amounts (Section 24A(b)(2)).
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Penalties for Fraud or Negligence: Taxpayers who commit fraud or exhibit reckless or intentional disregard of rules may face a disallowance period of 120 or 24 months during which they cannot claim the credit (Section 24A(f)(1)).
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Tax Increases Due to Overpayments: If advance payments exceed the actual credit amount due to changes in income or status, the taxpayer's tax may be increased to account for the excess (Section 24A(g)(2)).
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Strict Identification Requirements: No credit is allowed unless the taxpayer includes the name and taxpayer identification number of the qualifying child on their tax return (Section 24A(e)(1)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Children+9Good For Low Income Households+8Good For Middle Class Households+7
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Poverty Reduction+8Improves Childcare Affordability+7
- Economy And Finance
- Reduces Middle Class Taxes+7
- 4/9/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 44 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Angela AlsobrooksDemocrat · Maryland
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
Christopher CoonsDemocrat · Delaware
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Richard DurbinDemocrat · Illinois
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Mark KellyDemocrat · Arizona
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Patty MurrayDemocrat · Washington
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
Gary PetersDemocrat · Michigan
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Charles SchumerDemocrat · New York
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Elissa SlotkinDemocrat · Michigan
Chris Van HollenDemocrat · Maryland
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Raphael WarnockDemocrat · Georgia
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts