Bold expansions to the EITC will alleviate financial hardship and help families get ahead:

Based on this research, we understand the ways in which income supports and direct cash, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) impact the health and economic mobility of children and families. [...] Children’s HealthWatch also leads the Healthy Families EITC Coalition, a statewide nonpartisan network of advocates working to improve the health and well-being of Massachusetts children and families through an increase in the state EITC and supporting free tax preparation sites. [...] S.9 Given these positive health benefits, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently categorized the EITC as one of the 14 key evidence-based, cost effective interventions for improving health in early childhood.10 An approach to boost income improves health and financial stability, and also gives families freedom and dignity by enabling them to prioritize their own basic needs and to. [...] Additional reforms included in H.2871/S.1841 and S.1852 would address other immediate and intermediate needs identified in the Health Equity Task Force’s report, specifically to 1) increase food access and security, 2) provide and increase emergency basic income, 3) assist landlords, homeowners, and tenants to prevent evictions and foreclosure, 4) create access and inclusion for immigrants, and 5). [...] Researchers found that the federal EITC’s net cost is only 17 percent of the ($70 billion) budgetary cost over a one-year period.27 Other states have expanded the EITC and invested in direct cash payments for families: In response to the economic fallout of COVID-19 and the disproportionate impact on BIPOC and immigrant families as well as families with low incomes, other states have used EITC as.