People often pit business and family tax cuts against each other, particularly in the context of the upcoming tax package. Yet, as the president of an organization that unites, equips, and represents Christian-owned businesses, I know that to be a false choice.
Recently, a group of conservative leaders, including former Speaker Newt Gingrich, former Sen. Rick Santorum, and I, sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) urging them to prioritize expanding the Child Tax Credit in tax negotiations. The CTC is a fantastic example of how pro-family and pro-business policy can overlap. By helping families thrive, policymakers are also bolstering the future workforce.
At my organization, the Christian Employers Alliance, we understand the link between flourishing businesses and flourishing families. Our businesses know that place matters. Our businesses are all from somewhere. They are businesses in local communities — communities made up in large part of families. They have a stake in seeing their communities thrive, which means they have a stake in seeing the families in their communities thrive as well.
Of course, businesses of all stripes are also concerned about finding quality employees, and families play an important role here, too. When it comes to education, family is the first “school.” Businesses are rightly concerned about employees developing soft skills, such as conflict resolution, communication, and time-keeping, that children can learn first in flourishing families.
Perhaps above all, businesses are rightly concerned about having enough employees. That starts with having enough people who could be employees in the first place. Today’s employees are yesterday’s children, and today’s children are tomorrow’s employees.
Yet, America’s baby bust is deepening and, largely due to a plummeting birth rate, the American labor force is projected to grow by only 0.4% annually from 2023-2033, less than a third of the 2013-2023 growth rate of 1.3% and the slowest growth ever recorded. Put simply, we need more families and far more people to get married and start families. In a very real sense, the future of American business passes through the family.
It’s why President Donald Trump’s resounding election victory was historic: It included the mandate he received to make America work for working families and to make American families great again. After years of insidious inflation and hostility toward Christian companies and people under the last administration, there is a new dawn that can put families first.
It’s why Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Senate and House Republicans are putting so much energy into delivering tax cuts for working families and businesses. It’s why businesses support tax cuts for working families, such as the CTC. Businesses understand the need for investment to secure long-term returns. What’s more, these returns often have positive externalities, benefits that spill over beyond the original investor to the wider community. The same is true of flourishing families. The benefits to our nation of strong and flourishing families go far beyond any particular family.
This is why I signed a letter by pro-family conservative leaders to Congress calling for a strong CTC in the upcoming tax bill.
EXTENDING THE TAX CUTS AND JOBS ACT IS VITAL
“As longstanding conservative pro-family leaders, we look forward to supporting and assisting your strong action to strengthen American families and children by strengthening and making permanent the Child Tax Credit,” we wrote. “In order to maintain its 2017 value, the credit should be increased to at least $2,500 (we applaud Vice President JD Vance’s suggestion of $5,000) and made permanent. To prevent similar loss of value in the future, it should also be indexed to inflation going forward.”
Tax cuts such as the CTC, which strengthen families and are tied to work, are essential to making American families great again. This tax bill will be big, and if Republicans put families at the center, it will also be beautiful.
Margaret Iuculano is president of the Christian Employers Alliance. Previously, Margaret served as CEO of TechSherpas for eight years and then as executive vice president at FreedomWorks in Washington, D.C.