State Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivett addresses supporters of her congressional campaign during the primary election night watch party on August 6, 2024 in Saginaw, Michigan.
Andrew Ross AP
Michigan Democratic Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivett announced Wednesday that she will introduce a new bill that would expand the Earned Income Tax Credit for parents of young children, giving them up to $5,500 in credits per child.
The bill, shared exclusively with CNBC, is called the Working Parents Tax Relief Act and would provide eligible single or joint filers who claim the EITC an additional credit of up to $5,500 for up to three children under the age of four.
The bill would also raise the qualifying income limit for claiming the EITC to nearly $100,000 a year for filers with children under the age of 4, and would require the Treasury Department to create an enhanced monthly payment system.
This comes as Democrats campaign across the country on an affordability message, arguing that Republicans and President Donald Trump are failing to cut costs for Americans. According to opinion polls, the Democratic Party will have an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections, and President Trump may lose his majority in both houses of Congress.
“Bringing a baby home is the most magical moment in a parent’s life, but also the most expensive. Today, parents of young children are working harder than ever before, but still find it impossible to cover uncontrollable expenses such as housing, childcare, and groceries,” said MacDonald-Rivet. “We need to cut their taxes now. Our bill will put thousands of hard-earned dollars back into their pockets and help parents make ends meet while raising their families.”
The EITC is available to low- to moderate-income workers and their families. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average amount of EITC paid to U.S. individuals and families in the 2024 tax year was $2,894.
Congress has strengthened tax credits in the past. In 2021, the American Rescue Plan expanded the child tax credit from $2,000 to $3,000, or $3,600 per child. The stimulus package cut child poverty by nearly half, but despite repeated attempts, it was allowed to expire by Congress and was never renewed.
With Republicans in the House of Representatives, there is little chance that the MacDonald-Rivet bill will pass. But such bills are the cornerstone of Democratic messaging in an election year.
The new bill has support from groups including the moderate think tank Third Way and the progressive coalition Americans for Tax Fairness.
“The Working Parents Tax Relief Act of 2026 will provide real relief to working and middle-class parents,” said Zach Mueller, Senior Director of Economic Programs at Third Way.
McDonald-Rivet helped pass a similar bill when she was a Michigan state senator, and support for Michigan and the EITC increased from 6% to 30%.
Eligible households in Michigan received an average loan of $3,856 in 2025, according to the state Department of Treasury.
