This Republican senator wants an expanded child tax credit — with work requirements

An unusual thing happened a couple of years ago: nearly 3 million children in the United States were lifted out of poverty.

That's because of an expansion of the child tax credit, which was passed as a part of the federal COVID relief package.

Fast forward 2.5 years — those expanded tax credits have expired and new Census data released last week showed child poverty has surged to pre-pandemic levels.

Many in Washington, D.C. would like to see the child tax credit expanded again, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican.

But Rubio, unlike his Democratic counterparts, wants the expanded child tax credit to include work requirements.

All Things Considered host Juana Summers talks to Rubio about why he thinks work requirements are necessary, and how Republicans and Democrats can find common ground.

This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Interview highlights

Juana Summers: Let's just get right into it. Explain why you think work requirements are so necessary here?

I mean,