To the Editor:
Iowans are compassionate people and care about one another. We believe no Iowan should go hungry, especially our children. Sadly, child poverty has more than doubled in the last two years and 122,000 children in Iowa are hungry.
One cause contributing to an increase in child poverty is a refusal by MAGA Republicans, including Representative Ashley Hinson, to extend the Expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC). The Expanded CTC, passed by the Democrats and signed into law by President Biden as part of the American Rescue Plan, put money into the pockets of hard-working families each month to pay for food and necessities. Because of the Expanded Child Tax Credit, child poverty was cut in half.
Now MAGA extremists in Congress are poised to shut down the government. Food assistance for 58,126 Iowa women, children, and infants who rely on the special nutritional program WIC (Women Infants and Children) will be one of the first cuts.