The greatest joy in life is having children. Many in the developed world have drifted from this core value, and the evidence is seen not just in birthrates, but in a culture that no longer celebrates family. However, two decades of public service, the last eight in Congress, and six more as a college professor and youth mentor have made me an optimistic man. I believe young people are returning to what has been the bedrock value of American society for 250 years.
Family and child-rearing is a source of meaning, responsibility and our economic future. As Republicans in Congress map out a tax code for the next American century, they should take tender care to ensure providing for children is as generously encouraged and welcomed as possible. With an expanded Child Tax Credit, the House-passed “Big, Beautiful Bill” is an excellent first step. Now, the Senate must do its part.
Many families say they are having one child fewer than they want due to financial pressure, with the average being 0.5 children fewer per couple. Childcare today costs more than in any other period in American history, rising over 200 percent in the last three decades and now outpacing college tuition in most states. Couples raising children usually require more space than those who are not, and so are more affected by the national housing crisis, too.
Our culture makes it all worse — we all know couples who don’t want to start families if they can’t put them in the best daycare, the top schools, the safest neighborhoods, and all those costs are significantly higher than the baseline. “Making perfect the enemy of the good” used to be a punchline for politics. Now, it’s how we live our lives. From costs to social media-induced delirium, the pandemic only made it all worse.
Congress can’t solve all of this, but the least politicians can do is ease the financial burden of child-rearing, and help those that want kids, have them. In 2017, when I served in Congress during the first administration of President Trump, we doubled the Child Tax Credit to $2,000 as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.