Update on the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2015!

"Last Wednesday, the ATCWG Executive Committee co-hosted a congressional briefing with Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-MO) on the Adoption Tax Credit. Senators Casey and Blunt announced the reintroduction of the bipartisan Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2015 (S. 950). Please contact congressional offices with which you have relationships to share the exciting co-sponsorship opportunity! "

Here are the things you can do to support S.950:

• Reach out to any relationships you may have asking members to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation
• Share the Press Release on Facebook
• Retweet this

Federal Adoption Tax Credit Fact Sheet (PDF)

Adoption Tax Credit Grassroots Campaign: Thank You!

Grassroots Advocacy Campaign

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING

Special Thanks to…

You! Recently, the final message was sent in the Adoption Tax Credit Grassroots Advocacy Campaign. We want to give a special thanks to each of you for your participation over the last several weeks.

We’re grateful for your diligent efforts to share stories, messages, and advocacy tools with your communities. Your efforts are making a great difference for children and families. During this campaign, another new Senator and many new Representatives joined S. 1056 and H.R. 2144, thanks to your efforts. There are now a total of 27 Members of Congress that have signed on in support! Further, many more Members and their staff have been educated by their constituents about the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act and how very important the credit is to them and to their loved ones!

What a great start – and it wouldn’t have happened without you. Your voice and the many voices in your community make a big difference! We’re grateful for every voice that spoke out for this important cause. Don’t stop now! We encourage you to keep up the good work and to keep an eye out for more opportunities to engage policymakers on this issue, and with the Adoption Tax Credit Working Group in the future.

Please feel free to reach out to us with questions or ideas anytime at info@adoptiontaxcredit.org.

Warmly,

The Adoption Tax Credit Working Group

The Adoption Tax Credit Working Group’s Executive Committee:

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Adopt America Network, Christian Alliance for Orphans,

Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (Secretariat), Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption,

Donaldson Adoption Institute, Joint Council on International Children’s Services,

National Council For Adoption, North American Council on Adoptable Children,

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, ShowHope, and Voice for Adoption.

AUGUST ACTION ALERT: Let Congress Hear Your Voice!

Dear Friends of Adoption:

As you may know, Congress is on August recess, but this is a perfect time to connect with your Members of Congress.  Here are several simple ways you can reach out and make sure they know how important the Adoption Tax Credit is to you (their constituents). We want to build Senate and Representative support for the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act (S.1056/H.R.2144).
Here is what you can do in August:

• Send a letter to Congress. Use the template letter linked here but personalize it.   Even if you have already adopted, tell your legislators how important your family is to you. If you have not yet benefited from the Adoption Tax Credit, explain how you hope it is available for all future families.
  
• Call your Members of Congress. Surveys show that only 20 calls from constituents are needed for a bill to the get the attention of our elected officials.   Even if you sent a letter, please call. If you only do one thing, please call.   We have created a script for you and made it very easy.
  
• Visit your Members of Congress. August is a great time to make an appointment to visit your Members of Congress while they are back in their district and state for the August recess.  Find their website and contact their in state office to make an appointment. Use the Adoption Tax Credit website content for your meeting “script” and print this PDF document to leave with the staffer/Member that you meet with.
  
• Connect with your Members of Congress online. Social media allows you to directly connect with your elected officials.   Most Senators and Representatives have Facebook pages and Twitter accounts.  Connect with them today.

Do not underestimate the power of your voice and your story.  Members of Congress support bills that matter to their constituents. Please send this email to your networks.
Thank you for your continued support,

The Adoption Tax Credit Working Group Executive Committee

American Academy of Adoption Attorneys, Adopt America Network, Christian Alliance for Orphans,

Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (Secretariat), Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption,

Donaldson Adoption Institute, Joint Council on International Children’s Services,

National Council For Adoption, North American Council on Adoptable Children,

RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, ShowHope, and Voice for Adoption

Email: info@adoptiontaxcredit.org

Visit us online: http://adoptiontaxcredit.org

Voice for Adoption
1220 L St NW
Washington, District of Columbia 20005
US

Casey, Landrieu and Braley Introduce Legislation to Make Adoption Tax Credit Refundable

Making Credit Refundable Would Extend Benefits to More Families

In 2011 62% of Filers Benefited from Refundable Credit

Washington, DC –Today U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and Congressman Bruce Braley (D-IA) introduced the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2013. The bill would make the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable. Making the tax credit refundable would extend its benefits to more Americans. According to IRS data, 62% of filers in 2011 benefited from the refundable Adoption Tax Credit.

“Making the Adoption Tax Credit refundable will support and encourage adoption by assisting families with some of the costs,” Senator Casey said. “The Adoption Tax Credit has been a proven success in increasing families’ ability to offer permanent homes to adoptive children. Making the credit refundable will allow more families to experience its benefits.” 

"My husband and I are blessed with two precious, adopted children, and I know the Adoption Tax Credit encourages many families to consider expanding their own through adoption," Senator Landrieu said. "Without the tax credit being refundable, many adopting families can’t fully utilize the benefits of this credit to make adoption a reality. This change will especially help families that want to adopt foster youth, finally providing them with a permanent and loving family and ensuring foster care is only temporary. I am committed to making the Adoption Tax Credit refundable and look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to continue to support families who make the wonderful decision to adopt."

“The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act makes the tax credit even better by making it refundable,” Congressman Braley said.”  “That means more families can take full advantage of the tax cut, providing a better incentive to families considering adoption. That will help more children in need end up in loving homes.”

The adoption tax credit was made permanent in the American Taxpayer Relief Act in January 2013.  However, that law did not extend the refundability provisions that applied to the adoption tax credit in 2010 and 2011.  The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act will restore the refundable portion of this critical support for families wishing to adopt.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, one-third of all adopted children live in families with annual household income at or below 200 percent of the poverty level.  Despite the common misperception that only wealthy families adopt, nearly 46 percent of families adopting from foster care are at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.  Many of these families’ tax burdens are so low that they cannot benefit from the adoption tax credit at all unless it is refundable.

Preliminary 2011 data indicate that nearly 62 percent of families who filed for the adoption tax credit benefited from refundability.  Forty-one percent of families who benefited from refundability (25 percent of all families who took the tax credit) had adjusted gross incomes under $50,000.

These data indicate that a refundable adoption tax credit plays a significant role in lower-income families’ ability to adopt and support a child from foster care.  Older data from a 2006 study cited by HHS demonstrate a significant financial benefit to society, as well: the cost of adoption and permanency is significantly lower than the cost to federal, state and local governments to provide long-term foster care.