Failure to address climate change will prove catastrophic. The economic and social costs are enormous. Climate change will increase the frequency and impact of natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods, and increase the likelihood of unbearable heat and droughts. From an economic point of view, a hotter planet will make workers and agricultural land less productive, slowing economic growth and lowering living standards over time. All Americans will bear the costs of climate change, and the small fraction of the global population that has not yet been affected shrinks every day. Unchecked, these costs—which disproportionately impact marginalized communities—will continue to compound, harming working families through reduced wages, property loss, and worse health outcomes.

Using state-level data from the Treasury Department on advance Child Tax Credit (CTC) payments, the Joint Economic Committee estimated, by congressional district, the cumulative total CTC payment amounts in 2021 and the number of eligible children receiving the benefit at year’s end. Advance CTC payments began on July 15 and were authorized to continue each month through the end of the year. JEC estimates are based on data available through November 15.