U.S. citizens in Puerto Rico should be allowed child tax credit

(Washington, DC)  —  Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-20) has joined Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi of Puerto Rico and Representative John L. Mica (FL-07) as original co-sponsors supporting vital legislation to extend eligibility for the refundable portion of the child tax credit to Puerto Rican working families. H.R. 3718, introduced by Representative Edolphus Towns (NY-10), would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove the barriers that limits this benefit to Puerto Rican families with three or more children, unlike any of the 50 states where there is no such limit.

“U.S. citizens living in Puerto Rico should have the same rights and privileges afforded to those Americans living on the mainland,” said Rep. Wasserman Schultz. “The exclusion of any American living in Puerto Rico from being eligible for the child tax credit is simply unjust. Congress must act to rectify this inequity. This important legislation, which would make all residents of Puerto Rico fully eligible for the child tax credit, is necessary to ensure that all American families living in Puerto Rico have an opportunity to receive the same tax credits as those of us living here on the mainland.”

With unemployment rates on the island above 15 percent, the extension of the tax credit to the U.S. citizens of Puerto Rico is not only the right thing to do, it makes economic sense. By placing desperately needed resources directly into the hands of hard working families, this significant change in the tax code will go a long way in providing much-needed economic relief. With the correction of this obvious inequity in the tax credit system, we will bring Americans living in Puerto Rico into the full rights and privileges of citizenship.

Currently, H.R. 3718 is pending before the House Committee on Ways and Means. Rep. Wasserman Schultz has pledged her continued attention and support for this important piece of legislation as it moves forward.