On February 22, 2022, Children’s HealthWatch submitted testimony to Chairman Cusack, Chairman Hinds, and distinguished members of the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Revenue on H.4361: An Act to improve Massachusetts’ competitiveness and reduce the cost of living.

On behalf of Children’s HealthWatch, a nonpartisan network of pediatricians, public health researchers, and children’s health and policy experts committed to improving children’s health in America, we appreciate the proposal’s inclusion of provisions that provide financial relief for families with children. However, in considering this legislation, we strongly urge the Committee to further and more effectively target these efforts towards families with low incomes by increasing the state match of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) to 50 percent of the federal credit, and expanding EITC eligibility to immigrant taxpayers who file with an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).