Future Forum Urges Financial Relief for Young Americans Affected by COVID-19 Crisis

WASHINGTON – Today, Future Forum members sent a letter to House and Senate leaders urging changes to the CARES Act to allow dependents ages 17 to 18, college students under age 24, and permanently disabled children of all ages to be considered as a "qualifying child" for economic impact payment eligibility. While the recently-enacted law provided economic impact payments—or recovery rebates—of $1,200 for most individuals under a certain income and $500 for each dependent under 17, the law excludes young people age 17 and older whose parents still claim them as dependents. Future Forum, an influential group of young Democrats, is urging congressional leaders to amend the law in a forthcoming bill in order to include these dependents in line with bipartisan legislation introduced by caucus member Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.).

"There is no good policy rationale for the narrow definition that the CARES Act uses," the Members write in their letter. "Taxpayers with dependent children of all ages, not simply those with children under age 17, should receive this critical financial support during this unprecedented crisis."

There are an estimated nine million full-time students under age 24 whom taxpayers may not claim as a dependent for these purposes. Additionally, there are an estimated four million dependents ages 17 and 18 in high school who would not qualify for the supplemental payment. H.R. 6420, the All Dependent Children Count Act, introduced by Rep. Craig, would amend the CARES Act to include dependents ages 17 to 18, students younger than age 24, and permanently disabled individuals of all ages.

"COVID-19 is a public health and economic emergency that's impacting all of us, but it's unfair that so many young people and families with college students are being left out of this recovery," said Future Forum Chair Rep. Stephanie Murphy, D-Fla. "Fixing this law to ensure more dependents are eligible for financial relief will help millions of families in need during this difficult time."

"In the middle of a pandemic, we need to look out for our working families and make sure we are doing everything we can to provide financial support to those most in need," said Rep. Angie Craig. "When I learned that a wide range of dependent children were needlessly left out of the CARES Act, I immediately got to work introducing legislation to fix this and provide relief to millions of families."

The letter was signed by 36 members including Rep. Murphy, Rep. Craig, Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), Rep. Anthony Brindisi (D-N.Y.), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.), Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.), Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-Iowa), Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Texas), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.Y.), Rep. Kendra Horn (D-Okla.), Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.), Rep. Joseph Kennedy, III (D-Mass.), Rep. Derek Kilmer (D-Wash.), Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.), Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Rep. Ben McAdams (D-Utah), Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-Fla.), Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-N.H.), Rep. Max Rose (D-N.Y.), Rep. Michael San Nicolas (D-Guam), Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.), Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.), Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-N.M.), Rep. Lori Trahan (D-Mass.), Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.), and Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas).

Click here to view the full text of the letter.

Future Forum is a caucus of young Democratic Members of Congress who advocate for issues and opportunities important to younger Americans. Since its inception, Future Forum has visited more than 50 cities in an effort to engage with millennial and Gen Z Americans where they live, work, and go to school on issues such as student loan debt, college affordability, and employment opportunities.

##