; Whereas low-income children and families are often the targets of discrimination based on their socioeconomic status as well as other social indicators such as race or ethnicity, immigration status, ability, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity; Whereas low-income families pay nearly 35 percent of their income on childcare compared to middle-class families who pay roughly 14 percent of their income on childcare; Whereas poverty has lasting effects on a child’s neural and functional brain development and mental health; Whereas poverty exacerbates the student achievement rate and schools remain economically segregated; Whereas child poverty costs the United States between $800 billion and $1.1 trillion annually; Whereas protecting children against the lifelong consequences of poverty will improve their life and reduce child poverty in future generations; Whereas poverty exacerbates the student achievement rate and many schools remain economically and racially segregated; Whereas school districts with high poverty rates often receive the least amount of funding; Whereas the number of students experiencing poverty and homelessness has increased by 11 percent; Whereas LGBTQ+ students face poverty and homelessness because they are forced to leave their homes because of their sexual or gender identity; Whereas according to the Department of Education, 1.5 million school-aged children experienced homelessness during the 2017–2018 school year; Whereas many low-income children and families do not receive the full value of the current Child Tax Credit (CTC) as it leaves behind 23 million children, including 50 percent of Black and Latino Children; Whereas to reduce child poverty long term, children also need access to affordable, comprehensive physical and behavioral health care, affordable high-quality early development and learning opportunities, high performing schools and colleges, and families and neighborhoods free from violence