Australia, US Move to Expand Defence Ties in Indo-Pacific 
Nicaragua Congress Backs Reform Banning Opposition Parties 
Maduro Seeks Dismissal of US Drug Trafficking Charges 
U.S., New Zealand Fund $60M Cook Islands Port Upgrade 
US, Australia Pledge $580 Million for Pacific Islands 
US Strikes Iran as Tehran Retaliates, Oil Prices Surge 
Iran Strikes U.S. Bases in Kuwait as Hormuz Tensions Rise 
US-Iran Conflict Escalates With New Strikes Near Hormuz 
Greenland Says US Talks Remain Ongoing 
Ed Markey Wins Massachusetts Democratic Senate Primary 
Bessent Urges Japan on Fiscal Discipline, BOJ Rate Hikes 
Trump Reviews U.S. Position on Falkland Islands 
UN Security Council Faces Iran Sanctions Vote 
Trump Administration Threatens Smithsonian Support Over Leadership Dispute 
US-Iran Exchange Strikes as Hormuz Tensions Escalate 
Trump Says ExxonMobil Among Oil Majors Planning Venezuela Return 
Ukraine Sanctions Chief Heads to Washington to Push Russia Bill 
Add as a preferred source on Google
One of the provisions found in President Joe Biden’s American Families Plan was to expand the child tax credit until 2025. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi recently revealed that House Democrats are looking to make this provision permanent.
Speaking at a virtual event focused on raising awareness of filing tax returns by May 17, Pelosi said that House Democrats want the child tax credit expansion to be permanent following the provision that Joe Biden proposed that would extend it until 2025. The relief law increases the child tax credit amount from $2000 to $3600 for children under six years old and $3000 for older children. The provision is available to low-income households and directs the IRS to make advance payments of the credit on a periodic basis starting from July to December.
“We want to have it longer,” said Pelosi.
Senate Democrats also backed the permanent expansion of the child tax credit which currently lasts until this year, as per the American Rescue Plan. With the American Families Plan, the calls for the child tax credit would be permanently available for low-income families and proposes to extend other parts of the child tax credit expansion. This would include a higher credit amount through 2025.
Pelosi said that House Democrats are pleased that there is a one-year extension of the CTC from the COVID-19 relief plan and that the Biden administration wants to extend the expansion. However, according to the House Speaker, House Democrats would want more than an extension through 2025.
Meanwhile, Pelosi announced a change to the House floor mask rules that are currently in place this week. The rule requiring lawmakers to wear a mask on the House floor would be relaxed, and lawmakers may now remove their masks while they are recognized to speak during the debate. Pelosi said that the change is in accordance with the Capitol physician’s recommendation.
“To be clear, all members and staff must wear masks in the hall of the House at all times, except that a member may remove their mask when recognized by the chair. In addition, members presiding as chair may remove their mask when speaking,” said Pelosi when she opened the House session for the day.
