Supporting the designation of January 31, 2025, as "Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day".

Bill Number

H.Res. 88

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Taxation

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.

Last Updated

2025-02-21T11:38:47Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This House Resolution (H. Res. 88) aims to recognize and promote awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), a federal program that provides financial support to low- and moderate-income working families and individuals. It supports designating January 31, 2025, as "Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day" to highlight the benefits of tax credits and encourage broader access to them.

Key Provisions

• Recognition of EITC Benefits: Affirms that the EITC rewards work, has lifted about 8 million people out of poverty annually from 2017 to 2021, and boosts local economies.
• Support for Awareness Day: The House of Representatives endorses January 31, 2025, as a dedicated day to raise awareness.
• Call to Action: Urges federal, state, and local agencies, community groups, nonprofits, employers, and other partners to promote tax credits, including:
• The EITC itself.
• Other refundable tax credits (credits that can result in a refund even if no taxes are owed).
• Free tax filing assistance programs.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

This resolution introduces no changes to existing laws or policies. As a non-binding House resolution, it expresses the chamber's views and recommendations without creating enforceable legal requirements or amending statutes.

Potential Impacts

• On Citizens: Could increase participation in the EITC and similar programs, helping an estimated 20% of eligible workers who currently do not claim benefits. This may reduce poverty and provide economic relief to low-income families without altering eligibility rules.
• On Government Agencies: Encourages the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and other agencies to collaborate on outreach efforts, potentially improving efficiency in tax credit distribution but adding no new mandates or funding.
• On International Relations: No impacts, as the resolution focuses solely on domestic U.S. tax policy.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Low- and Moderate-Income Workers and Families: Primary beneficiaries, as increased awareness could help them access refunds and credits worth thousands of dollars annually.
• Community and Nonprofit Organizations: Involved in outreach and providing free tax help, potentially seeing higher demand for services.
• Employers and Businesses: Encouraged to inform employees about benefits, which could indirectly support local economies.
• Government Entities: Federal (e.g., IRS), state, and local agencies tasked with promoting tax programs.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Purely symbolic and advisory; it has no force of law and does not require Senate approval or presidential signature. It aligns with existing tax code provisions but does not interpret or challenge them.
• Constitutional: No implications, as it falls within Congress's broad authority to express policy preferences without infringing on individual rights or executive functions.
• Political: Highlights bipartisan support for anti-poverty measures (introduced by Democrats with cosponsors), potentially influencing public discourse on tax policy and social welfare. It may encourage voluntary initiatives but risks being seen as insufficient without accompanying legislative action to expand credits.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

Cosponsors (11)

Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4], Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

Recent Actions

• 2025-01-31: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
• 2025-01-31: Submitted in House

Bill Versions

• Supporting the designation of January 31, 2025, as "Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day". — issued 2025-01-31 — PDF (2 pages)