(C) Iowa Capital Dispatch.
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Dr. Jill Biden visits DMACC to promote child tax credit and education spending proposals
['Katie Akin', 'More From Author', '- September']
Date: 2021-09-15 00:00:00
ANKENY, Ia. — First lady Dr. Jill Biden spoke about the importance of child care and education in an Iowa event Wednesday, touting federal aid programs for students and families.
“[President Joe Biden’s] administration is fighting every day to get rid of all the obstacles that you face so that you can focus on really what matters most: your kids, your job, your future,” she said.
U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne joined Biden at the event, speaking to a crowd of about 35 local Democrats and Des Moines Area Community College officials gathered at the Ankeny DMACC campus. They highlighted the monthly child tax credit payments and other COVID-19 aid measures passed under the Biden administration.
“It’s the largest child tax credit ever,” Biden said to applause. “You know, Joe gets it. Don’t forget, he was a single parent for a couple of years.”
Axne said about 340,000 Iowa households have received the tax credit, representing more than 80% of Iowa kids. Monthly payments are up to $300 per child.
Biden said the next step is passing the Democrats’ major spending plan to extend child tax credits, create universal preschool and make the first two years of community college free.
“We’ve seen over and over again how community college can change people’s lives, and their children’s lives as well,” said Biden, who works as a community college professor in Virginia.
Axne: Child tax credit is a high priority
After the event, reporters asked Axne whether the child tax cut was on the chopping block in negotiations in the controversial spending bill. Some moderate Democrats have asked for a lower pricetag on the package, which could run up to $3.5 trillion.
Axne responded that keeping the child tax credit was a high priority for Democratic leaders.
“It’s coming from moms in the House … we know what it’s like to have a family while you’re working, and we’re taking that to the table,” she said.
Biden’s Central Iowa visit was part of a Wednesday swing through the Midwest. Before traveling to Des Moines, she visited a Milwaukee elementary school and spoke to teachers and parents about returning to in-person learning during the pandemic.
Dr. Biden promised to tell President Biden about what she heard from the roundtable group in Milwaukee.
“I know this is complicated, but we are going to keep listening and we’re going to keep learning from your experiences,” she said. “And we are committed to working as hard for your children as you do.”
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