Democratic congressional candidate Jack Schlossberg has introduced a proposal to restructure the federal Child Tax Credit, converting annual payments into monthly deposits while expanding the benefit to levels not seen since the pandemic era.
The plan, which Schlossberg has termed the “Monthly Moms Bonus,” represents a significant departure from current tax policy. Under existing law, the Child Tax Credit provides qualifying families up to $2,200 annually per child. Schlossberg’s proposal would divide these payments into monthly installments deposited directly into parents’ bank accounts.
The financing mechanism for this expansion has drawn attention for its political implications. Schlossberg’s campaign indicates the program would be funded partially by redirecting $1 billion that some Senate Republicans have proposed allocating toward White House State Ballroom renovations. Additional tax reforms would cover remaining costs, according to campaign materials.
It bears noting that the Republican funding proposal for White House security updates has not cleared the Senate, and its legislative fate remains uncertain.
The second phase of Schlossberg’s plan aims higher. He proposes restoring Child Tax Credit levels to those implemented during the American Rescue Plan, the pandemic-era legislation that temporarily expanded such benefits. Under this framework, qualifying families would receive $300 monthly for each child under six years of age and $250 monthly for children six and older.
Schlossberg, a grandson of President John F. Kennedy, plans to present these proposals during a Mother’s Day campaign event alongside his mother, Caroline Kennedy, who has served as United States Ambassador to Australia and previously to Japan.
“It’s Mother’s Day, and the first thing I did was tell my own mother I love her, and the next thing I want to do is deliver a robust child tax credit that doesn’t wait a year to get to NYC families, but one that is deposited monthly into the checking account to be used right away,” Schlossberg stated.
The proposal applies to all United States tax filers who qualify for the existing Child Tax Credit, not merely residents of New York’s 12th Congressional District, which Schlossberg seeks to represent.
The race has attracted considerable attention given the district’s prominence. New York’s 12th encompasses Manhattan neighborhoods including Midtown, the Upper West Side, and the Upper East Side. The seat is opening due to the retirement of Representative Jerry Nadler, who has served in Congress for more than three decades.
Nadler has endorsed Micah Lasher, a New York State Assemblyman who previously served as the congressman’s aide. The June 23 primary ballot includes several other candidates: New York State Assemblyman Alex Bores, Lincoln Project co-founder George Conway, and public health researcher Nina Schwalbe.
The proposal places Schlossberg squarely within a broader Democratic policy discussion about expanding direct payments to families with children. Similar debates have occurred at the federal level, with various lawmakers proposing different approaches to child poverty and family economic security.
Whether this proposal gains traction beyond the campaign trail remains to be seen. Its implementation would require congressional action and presidential approval, processes that involve complex negotiations and competing priorities.
For now, it serves as a clear policy marker in what has become a crowded and competitive Democratic primary in one of New York’s most politically engaged districts.
Related: Texas Woman Charged with Attempted Firebombing of GOP County Office
