Attention California Foster Care, Foster Parent, Adoption and Child Welfare Organizations
and Individual Supporters!
Please Write in Support of Assembly Joint Resolution 17, which urges Congress to Pass the Foster Care Tax Credit Act
Update: AJR 17 Passed the Senate Human Services Committee 6-0 on June 30, but keep sending the support letters. AJR 17 goes to the Senate Rules Committee! For the latest status, visit the Legislative Info page
About: The Foster Care Tax Credit Act (S.664) is a federal bill that would provide a tax credit of up to $1,000 per year, per child to families that foster children for six months or less. Unlike longer-term foster families, shorter-term foster care providers are not eligible for tax credit assistance, known as the Child Tax Credit, to cover the actual cost of caring for foster children. The credit would be pro-rated by the number of months a foster child is in the family’s care.
California Assembly member Patty Lopez (District 39) created AJR 17 to urge Congress to enact the Foster Care Tax Credit Act to help support and recruit valuable foster parents. Click here to download the AJR 17 Fact Sheet.
Please write to show your organization's support of the Foster Care Tax Credit Act.
BELOW IS A SAMPLE ORGANIZATION SUPPORT LETTER
Directions: Please use the following letter as a template for your own personalized support letter.
1. Copy and paste the content on your organizational letterhead
2. Mail, fax, or scan and email the letter to Assembly member Patty Lopez. Please note the letter must contain a signature by a member of your organization to be accepted as valid by the Assembly.
1.1. Email:
1.2. Fax: (916) 319-2139
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[insert date]
The Honorable Patty Lopez
State Capitol, Room 5160
Sacramento, CA 94249-0039
Fax: (916) 319-2139
Re: SUPPORT FOR AJR 17 – FOSTER CARE TAX CREDIT ACT S664
Dear Asm Lopez:
I am writing to express my organization’s strong support for Assembly Joint Resolution 17 that urges the President and
Congress of the United States to enact Senate Bill 664, the Foster Care Tax Credit Act, which would provide tax relief to
short-term foster parents by helping to cover the actual costs of caring for a foster child.
The Foster Care Tax Credit Act would seek to help the many families who care for children for six months or less, who
unlike longer term foster families are not eligible for tax credit assistance, known as the Child Tax Credit, to cover the
actual cost of caring for foster children. Short-term foster families would be eligible for a tax credit of up to $1,000 each
year, per child, with the credit being pro-rated by the number of months a foster child is in the family’s care.
Due to the emotional and physical trauma many foster children have faced, care can be expensive for parents, and much of it comes out of their own pockets. A tax credit for short-term foster parenting will not only help short-term foster with expenses but may also encourage more people to become foster parents.
Lastly, recruiting more foster parents also increases the chance that children will be adopted into permanent families before they “age-out” of the system at age 21. Of the children adopted from foster care in 2012, 54 percent were adopted by former foster parents. (U.S. Department of Health & Human Service, The AFCARS Report, estimates as of July 2012)
Thank you for the creation of AJR 17, and we are pleased to express our support of the resolution.
Sincerely,
[must contain an actual signature]
Name
Organization