VOA慢速英语--拜登的万亿救济法案可能将美国儿童贫困人口减少一半

The $1.9 trillion spending plan signed into law by United States President Joe Biden Thursday provides more than just aid for the coronavirus health crisis. Some experts say it could cut the country's rate of child poverty in half.

"This historic legislation is about rebuilding the backbone¹ of this country," Biden said as he signed the bill in the Oval Office.

More than half of the money will go directly to Americans. Some will receive as much as $1,400. Others will receive payments related to job losses, food, housing, health and child care. The rest will assist businesses, schools and state and local governments affected² by the coronavirus health crisis.

A change in policy

In addition to the direct payments, the legislation, called the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, would create a refundable³ tax credit of $3,600 for one year for children under 6 years of age, and $3,000 for children between 6 and 17.

Beginning in July, money will be sent to some families in monthly payments. The law also expands existing tax credits for people with costs related to the care of children and dependents.

The research organization Urban Institute estimated that it will reduce poverty by more than one-third and by more than half for children in the year 2021. The Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University estimated that the law will cause nearly 12 million Americans including more than 5 million children not to be considered poor.

"It's a huge change," said Sarah Halpern-Meekin of the Institute for Research on Poverty. She compared the legislation to the Social Security Act of 1935. That law established the system of retirement⁴ payments for older Americans which is paid for by the social security tax.

A study from the Tax Policy Center estimated that the law will raise the income of the poorest Americans by about 20 percent after they have paid taxes. The center noted⁵ that 70 percent of the tax savings⁶ will go to those making $91,000 or less.

The bill received no support from Republican lawmakers. However, a public opinion study from the Pew Research Center suggests a large majority of Americans, 70 percent, support the legislation.

Speaking after the House of Representatives' vote on Wednesday to pass the bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said, "This is the most consequential⁷ legislation that many of us will ever be a party to."

She added, "We celebrate because we are honoring a promise made by our president, and we join with him in promising⁸ that help is on the way."

House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy denounced the bill as an attempt to expand "socialism" in the country. He said it is a list of liberal proposals that existed before the coronavirus health crisis. He said it did not meet the needs of American families.

Permanent or temporary?

As it is written, the law will be in effect until the end of the year.

Robert Doar is president of the research organization American Enterprise Institute. He said sending money to families will not solve the problems related to child poverty.

Doar wrote, "by sending out regular checks...the new proposals would undermine the structures in our safety net that have promoted greater parental⁹ involvement, increased work and training, and stronger parenting by both parents."

Supporters of the new policy say the payments would help children's development. They say it is better to create a permanent policy to help the poor similar to those offered in many European countries.

Indivar Dutta-Gupta is the co-executive director of the Center on Poverty and Inequality at Georgetown Law School. He said, "the president and those who have supported expanding the child tax credit are putting Congress in the position" of permitting the new law to end. He said: "...if they do, child poverty rates will roughly double on their watch..." He added, "...or they can find a way to extend the provision."

Words in This Story

backbone - n. the most important or strongest part of something

refundable tax credit –n. a tax credit that people can claim that is not tied to how much tax they have to pay

consequential –adj. important

check –n. (often) a piece of paper representing a payment from someone to someone that is carried out through a bank

promote –v. to make people aware of something; to make something more popular

provision –n. a condition that is included as part of an agreement or law

1 backbone   

n.脊骨，脊柱，骨干；刚毅，骨气

参考例句：

• The Chinese people have backbone.中国人民有骨气。
• The backbone is an articulate structure.脊椎骨是一种关节相连的结构。

2 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

3 Refundable   

adj.可归还的，可退还的

参考例句：

• All deposits for holiday cottages are refundable. 度假别墅的抵押金可全数退还。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Empty bottles are not refundable. 空瓶不退。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

5 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

6 savings   

n.存款，储蓄

参考例句：

• I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假，那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
• By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时，他的存款已全部用完。

7 consequential   

adj.作为结果的，间接的；重要的

参考例句：

• She was injured and suffered a consequential loss of earnings.她受了伤因而收入受损。
• This new transformation is at least as consequential as that one was.这一新的转变至少和那次一样重要。

8 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

9 parental   

adj.父母的；父的；母的

参考例句：

• He encourages parental involvement in the running of school.他鼓励学生家长参与学校的管理。
• Children always revolt against parental disciplines.孩子们总是反抗父母的管束。