Policy Brief – Missing the Mark: How the Family Security Act 2.0 Could Cause More Harm than Good for Domestic Violence Survivors
Following the expiration of the expanded Child Tax Credit that was included in the American Rescue Plan, U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R- UT), Richard Burr (R-NC), and Steve Daines (RMT) released a proposal that would amend the Child Tax Credit, called the Family Security Act 2.0 (“FSA 2.0”).[1] It is intended to serve as an updated version of previous legislation by the same name. While advocates for survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, and low-income mothers had been eager to see the Child Tax Credit extended and expanded, we are deeply concerned that the proposal as presented may do more harm than good, particularly to the most vulnerable mothers and children. The following brief outlines these concerns as well as hopeful elements of the proposal that we suggest be brought forward into any new legislation.