WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) helped introduce the Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2023, which would make the current Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable, removing income as a financial barrier to adoption.
“As a father of four, I believe that every child deserves a loving family and a safe place to call home. However, we know that too many children in the foster care system are still looking for permanent families,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I’m excited to work with my colleagues to make the Adoption Tax Credit fully refundable, which is a strong policy that ensures that families who want to adopt are not discouraged by costly financial barriers. In Congress, I will continue to advocate for policies that support our families.”
Currently, the Adoption Tax Credit prevents low- and middle-income families from adopting foster youth. This is particularly problematic given that approximately half of youth adopted from foster care live in families with incomes at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level; thus, the credit inadvertently creates barriers to permanency for a substantial number of families.
During the Great Recession, Congress made the Adoption Tax Credit refundable recognizing that economic hardship could prevent families from adopting or exact a heavy financial toll from families choosing adoption. The Adoption Tax Credit Refundability Act of 2023 would again make this credit refundable to remove income as a barrier to adoption to help more children join permanent, loving families.
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