U.S. Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and Mitt Romney (R-UT) this week introduced a Republican-led bill that would allow pregnant moms to claim the Child Tax Credit for their unborn children.
“Expecting parents begin providing and preparing for their child the minute they learn they’re having a baby — the Child Tax Credit should reflect the fact that unborn children are children too,” Sen. Daines said. “From prenatal care to stocking up on baby supplies, this tax relief will help parents prepare for the arrival of their baby.”
The Child Tax Credit for Pregnant Moms Act of 2022, S. 3537, which Sen. Daines sponsored with 12 Republican cosponsors, would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide the child tax credit, according to the text of the bill.
“Our bill acknowledges that preparing to raise a child starts before the baby is born by allowing parents to claim their unborn children under the Child Tax Credit,” said Sen. Fischer, an original cosponsor of S. 3537.
Sen. Romney, also an original bill cosponsor, said, “With one of the highest birth rates in the country, my home state of Utah has a lot of families who know that financial pressures don’t wait for a new baby to arrive.”
“I’m proud to support this effort to allow pregnant moms to claim the Child Tax Credit for their unborn children, which will help alleviate some of the costs for families through pregnancy and in the first months of their child’s life,” Sen. Romney added on Monday.
The companion bill, H.R. 6505, was introduced on Jan. 25 by U.S. Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) and 28 Republican original cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. Don Bacon (R-NE), Michael Burgess (R-TX), Ann Wagner (R-MO), Rodney Davis (R-IL), Brian Mast (R-FL), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Kay Granger (R-TX), Billy Long (R-MO), and Garret Graves (R-LA).
Originally, Sen. Daines introduced the legislation during the previous two congressional sessions in 2018 and 2019 but they stalled in committee.