Representative Angie Craig Applauds Advancement of Provision to Expand the Definition of Dependent in American Rescue Plan COVID Relief Package

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig applauded her colleagues in the House Ways and Means Committee for advancing a budget proposal that included an expanded definition of dependents in the upcoming COVID relief package. In previous bills signed into law, many Americans, including dependents over the age of 16, college students and disabled adults, were excluded from being counted for receiving economic assistance checks from the federal government. The updated classification would ensure that families who claim children, students and disabled adults as dependents on their tax forms would be eligible for relief checks.

"All across America, millions of hardworking families are struggling just to keep their heads above water. But when economic relief checks were delivered last year, millions of households across the country were shocked and disappointed to learn that not all of their family members were eligible for support," Craig said. "After nearly a year of advocacy and outreach, I am pleased that this commonsense provision is set to become law – delivering desperately needed relief to folks back home in Minnesota."

The approval of the provision on Wednesday evening suggests that the expanded definition will likely be included in the final package voted on by Congress, wrapping up a legislative effort launched by Representative Craig nearly a year ago. In the 116^th Congress, Representative Craig led her colleagues in introducing a bipartisan bill to broaden the definition of dependents. While the expanded definition was included in three pieces of legislation passed by the House of Representatives, the United States Senate never took up those proposals. Just last week, Representative Craig and U.S. Senator Tina Smith called on Congressional leadership to include the expanded definition in the upcoming COVID relief bill, arguing that a failure to do so would prevent many families from receiving the benefits to which they are entitled.