Huong Vu
I am raising two daughters in Boston, MA and work in Early Education and Care and Family Engagement. I joined the PAB in order to have a deep knowledge about the Child Tax Credit, other income support policies, and contribute to policy changes. Love, acceptance, appreciation, encouragement, and guidance are all your child needs in their life.
1. What is something you’re really proud of as a parent?
I always want the best for my children so I always looked for resources and support for my kids. I also stepped up to help others in my community so they could also have those resources.
2. What do you want lawmakers to know about what it’s like raising children and making ends meet in today’s economy?
It takes a village to raise kids and our kids deserve better opportunities to be able to participate in sports and music and not just provide the basics. Our kids deserve more opportunities to grow and become strong leaders in the future.
3. Why is the Child Tax Credit (CTC) important to you?
Back in 2021, when we received the expanded CTC, we were able to have a financial cushion. My salary was cut and we were only depending on my husband’s salary. We were worried about how to make ends meet. With the CTC, we were able to cover the salary that I lost. Once we got back on our feet, we were able to put some money into our savings. Having a cushion meant that we were able to afford basics like gas and electricity.
4. Why is it important to you that lawmakers expand the Child Tax Credit?
To me, it’s obvious. Why do we still have to fight every day for financial support to help our kids? I always believe regardless of our financial situation, raising kids is expensive. Low- and even middle-income families can struggle to meet basic needs like utilities and deserve the CTC. We should all have the opportunity to afford basic needs and extracurricular enrichment activities. Kids deserve to have both.
5. If you had $500 more for each of your children every month, how would you use it?
If I had an extra $500 each month for each of my children, I would put it directly into their college savings. As a first-generation immigrant who did not have the opportunity to attend college in the United States, one of my biggest dreams is to give my children that opportunity. I want them to be able to attend a great college and pursue their dreams without financial circumstances becoming a barrier. Every extra dollar saved today would be an investment in their education, future, and opportunities.
6. In addition to increasing the benefit level, are there other changes to the CTC that you think are important to ensure children and families can thrive?
In addition to increasing the benefit amount, I believe it is important to make sure that the Child Tax Credit (CTC) does not reduce or replace other important benefits that families rely on, such as food assistance or cash assistance. Families should not have to choose between receiving the CTC and other support they need to provide for their children.
I also believe the application and renewal process should be simpler and more family-friendly. Families are already balancing work, childcare, and many other responsibilities, so the process should be easy to understand, accessible, and designed to reduce unnecessary paperwork and barriers.
Finally, as an immigrant myself, I also believe strongly that the CTC should be available to all children, regardless of their immigration status or their parents’ status. While my own family may not be directly affected by the current CTC exclusions, I understand how immigration status can create additional barriers and uncertainty for families. Every child deserves the CTC that will support their well-being and development. I believe the CTC should be designed to include all children and not leave some families out because of their immigration background. In addition, for immigrant families, easy and accessible processes can make a meaningful difference in whether they are able to access the support their children need.