Drew Ferguson: “we are here today in the name of American families, to support our children and to support our children's future…”

“we are here today in the name of American families, to support our children and to support our children's future educational opportunities. I am not only a father, but a former teacher. This is about more than a tax credit. This is about working to expand relief to a greater number of families and to make sure those families who already benefit from the child tax credit continue to be able to do so and are not forced to face a tax increase next year. In my home State of New Jersey, 1.4 million children benefit from the child tax credit; 1.4 million children in New Jersey benefit from the child tax credit, and over 100,000 of those children live in the congressional district I have the privilege of representing. I want to be able to look their parents in the eye and tell them I am doing everything in my power to help them save for their children's future, their children's college fund. I want to tell them that even more children will benefit in the upcoming years. I want to be able to, in good faith, promise them that no matter what, we will help the American family in the best and worst times of the economy. This bill will allow me and all of us to do just that. The Child Credit Preservation and Expansion Act of 2004 makes the child tax credit permanent at $1,000 a child. If Democrats had their way, this credit would decline and then vanish in the year 2010. We will not let that happen. This bill allows a greater number of families to benefit nationwide.”