Following criticism from pro-life groups and adoption organizations, Republicans have restored the adoption tax credit to their tax plan. Pro-life organizations and Republican lawmakers who worked to include the credit hailed the decision Thursday.
The adoption tax credit, which is capped at $13,460, is meant to help families afford the often-expensive process of adoption. The credit was initially passed in 1997 and is not available to families making more than $242,000 a year.
Preserving the credit “will ensure that parents can continue to receive additional tax relief as they open their hearts and their homes to an adopted child,” Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX), chair of the House Ways and Means Committee and himself an adoptive father of two, said Thursday during the markup of the tax reform bill.
Previously, Rep. Brady and House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) argued that the credit helped only a small amount of families and that the tax plan helped more families overall.
Carol Tobias of the National Right to Life praised the reversal saying, “the adoption tax credit has served as an effective way to encourage adoption by easing the often-steep financial expense that can be incurred by adopting a child.”
Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List said, “over the last week our pro-life allies including Reps. Trent Franks, Diane Black, Mike Kelly, Chris Smith worked diligently to restore the Adoption Tax Credit to the GOP tax reform bill. We thank them for their efforts and we thank Chairman Brady for making the critical motion to restore it.”
“This important pro-life tax credit costs the government relatively little, but by reducing the steep expenses of adoption, it makes all the difference to tens of thousands of families each year who open their homes and hearts to children in need,” she emphasized.
Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life, said she was “grateful” that credit was preserved.
“The adoption tax credit has helped so many families and saved so many lives – and needs to be safeguarded,” she said. “The March for Life would like to thank Rep. Kevin Brady, Rep. Diane Black, Rep. Mike Kelly, and House Leadership for offering this amendment and working to promote life through the restoration of the adoption tax credit.”
Catherine Glenn Foster, President of Americans United for Life and an adoptive mother commented that, for her, the issue was personal.
“The adoption tax credit has helped my own family,” she said, “and I am very thankful that it will continue to be available to parents who have so generously decided to provide children in need with a forever family.”