WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, on Monday introduced the Providing for Life Act, what her office calls a “comprehensive, pro-family package” that shows value for life at all stages and supports families of all backgrounds. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., introduced a companion bill in the U.S. Senate.
After introducing the bill in Congress, Hinson visited several community organizations in Dubuque, Iowa, that work to defend the unborn, improve maternal health care, and expand access to child care. She said she continues to advocate for pro-family policies and listen to Iowans working to advance a culture of life.
“The Providing for Life Act charts the policy course for a culture of life in America. By expanding the Child Tax Credit to include the unborn and provide additional relief to working families, empowering women to care for their babies and families regardless of socioeconomic status or zip code, and expanding access to community resources, we can protect the most vulnerable, make a meaningful difference for those in need, and strengthen all families. I want to thank Senator Rubio for leading this important legislation in the Senate, and I look forward to building consensus around this comprehensive, pro-family plan,” Hinson said in a released statement.
The Providing for Life Act is comprised of nine parts – including an expansion of the Child Tax Credit for working families – that empower parents to raise and care for healthy, happy children regardless of socioeconomic status or zip code. In addition to the Providing for Life Act, Hinson recently introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to expand access to maternal health care access and prevent stillbirths.
Provides tax breaks to working families:
- Expanding the refundable Child Tax Credit (CTC) to up to $3,500 for children 5 and under, and $4,500 for children aged 6 to 17
- Expanding the CTC to provide support for unborn babies during pregnancy
- Making the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable
Supports new parents:
- Enhancing paid parental leave and giving parents options and flexibility
- Expands WIC eligibility for postpartum women
- Enacts multi-tiered child support reform
- Mandates cooperation with child support for SNAP recipients
- Incentivizes states to establish rules requiring the father to cover half of women’s pregnancy costs
- Re-routes $100 million from the TANF contingency fund for grants to states for work activities for non-custodial parents under child support orders, so fathers are empowered to support their own families
Empowers women and protects their babies:
- Ensures pregnant women know their rights and protections on college campuses and have access to non-abortion resources and options. This empowers women to choose life while continuing their education
- Establishes a federal clearinghouse of resources available to pregnant mothers and supports the Maternal Mental Health Hotline through a new website, life.gov
- Ensures Title X funding is made available to pregnancy resource centers
Builds community support for mothers and new families:
- Funds local demonstration programs providing volunteer mentoring and peer support services for low-income, vulnerable mothers
- Expands and codifies vital protections for faith-based organizations providing federally funded social services
Read the bill below:
Providing_for_Life_Act_48_
