WASHINGTON, DC – In an effort to target tax relief to workers, U.S. Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) today joined Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and 42 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Tax Cut for Workers Act to give millions of working Americans a much-needed tax break.
In stark contrast to the Republican billionaires-first tax plan that is making its way through Congress, the Tax Cut for Workers Act offers a fiscally responsible way to help eligible families retain more of their earnings. It would help increase economic security and ease the financial burden on American families caused by the Trump Administration’s chaotic policies.
The Tax Cut for Workers Act is part of Senate Democrats’ comprehensive plan to bring relief to the American people, and it is being introduced along with measures to permanently expand the Child Tax Credit. Senate Democrats are focused squarely on working Americans who make this country great versus the Trump Republican tax plan to increase the debt and give billionaires a tax cut they don’t need.
“With costs skyrocketing right now thanks to the Trump administration, millions of hardworking Americans need expanded tax relief to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table for their families,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This bill is focused on those who really need a tax cut – middle-class Americans who contribute to our economy – not Donald Trump’s billionaire friends.
“Every Rhode Islander deserves lower costs and meaningful tax relief. But President Trump’s reckless tariff tax is driving up prices for hardworking Americans and the Republican tax plan appears to be a giant giveaway to the wealthiest at the expense of workers. Most of the benefit of the Trump tax plan goes to the wealthy, while everyday folks get pennies on the dollar. Instead, Congress should prioritize targeted tax relief to help workers and also allow for wise investments in essential public services, like education, public safety, transportation, health care, and more,” said Senator Reed. “The Tax Cut for Workers Act would help more Rhode Islanders make ends meet and add some much needed stability and certainty to our nation’s economic outlook.”
“Teachers and firefighters should not pay higher tax rates than billionaires,” said Senator Whitehouse. “While Republicans try to pass legislation to give even more tax breaks to the ultra-rich at the expense of everyone else, we are fighting to secure much-needed tax relief for hardworking Rhode Islanders who are trying to make ends meet as costs continue to increase.”
The existing Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) – the Worker Tax Cut – has been delivering tax relief for millions of workers for decades. But it’s just not enough, and Congressional Democrats are determined to give more working Americans a tax break. This legislation would cut taxes for working-class Americans without children, who currently receive a much smaller EITC than workers with children. This expansion would include over 39,000 Rhode Islanders by nearly tripling the average tax break many of these Americans receive from the existing EITC. It also extends eligibility for the tax cut to workers under the age of 25 and over the age of 64.
Read the full bill text.
Additional cosponsors of the bill include U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).
Senators Reed and Whitehouse have consistently supported efforts to cut taxes and lower costs for hardworking Rhode Islanders. They helped pass critical expansions to the Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue plan, and have been working to permanently increase this vital relief for working families.
