Taxpayer dollars at work: Child tax credit, protecting online data, safety measures for World Cup

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Georgia U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock at a press conference highlighting his Child Tax Credit legislation on April 9, 2025.

Credit: Screenshot

Note: In this recurring digital news series, GPB follows your federal tax dollars back to the state of Georgia. Neither Sen. Jon Ossoff nor Sen. Raphael Warnock is up for reelection this year — the former will run again in 2026 and the latter in 2028.

For the week ending April 11, the senators worked on introducing legislation to double the child tax credit, extend tax credits for Georgians with disabilities, protect Americans' online data, and urged FIFA to improve resources for host cities about preventing human trafficking ahead of the 2026 World Cup.

2026 World Cup

On March 31, Ossoff and a group of bipartisan senators pushed FIFA officials, via inquiry, to improve the resources for host cities, including Atlanta, in preventing human trafficking ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

"As conversations are ongoing between Congress and Host City Committees regarding federal support for vital security funding needs, one critical issue that FIFA should not overlook is the need to prevent and respond to any human trafficking," the senators wrote. "However, in the past, FIFA has faced criticism for its poor track record in addressing human rights violations, as evidenced during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar."

The inquiry comes after FIFA published a World Cup 2026 Human Rights Framework in June 2024, a document with guidelines for the 16 World Cup Host City Committees. 

"We want to make sure that FIFA is considering how to combat human trafficking not just in host cities, but throughout North America," the group continued. "This collaboration should include robust preventative measures, partnerships with law enforcement, and engagement with community organizations to ensure that this World Cup serves as a model for future events."

Social Security stories

On April 2, Warnock announced he submitted over 250 questions from Georgians to Social Security Administration nominee Frank Bisignano to answer after his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee.

"The 261 questions were pulled from over 500 responses from Georgia seniors and family members who have concerns about the future of social security in the state," per a press release.

"Georgians asked about this nominee's plans to ensure their benefits are not disrupted by DOGE," said Warnock when submitting the questions for the record. "They asked about Elon Musk accessing their personal data. They asked about disability wait times and approval backlogs."

Bisignano's responses can be found here.

Telehealth access

On April 4, Warnock joined Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) to introduce bipartisan legislation to expand telehealth services for seniors on Medicaid.

According to a press release, the Connect for Health Act would "expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities permanent, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors."

Telehealth flexibilities are set to expire on Sept. 30, 2025, unless Congress extends them.

"So many Georgian seniors, especially in rural communities, benefited from new telehealth programs that allowed seniors to talk to their doctor online or over the phone," Warnock said in a statement. "Congress needs to keep those programs from expiring. The bipartisan and common sense CONNECT For Health Act builds on that progress by continuing to offer people the telehealth they need."

Georgians with disabilities 

On April 7, Ossoff pushed to pass bipartisan legislation he co-sponsored to extend tax benefits for people with disabilities and help them save money for future expenses.

The push from Ossoff comes ahead of the expanded tax benefits scheduled to expire this year.

The Ensuring Nationwide Access to a Better Life Experience (ENABLE) Act, introduced by Sens. Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), "would allow people with disabilities who contribute to Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts to continue qualifying for a nonrefundable saver's tax credit of up to $1,000," per a press release.

ABLE accounts are a tax-favored savings program for those with disabilities to help save for expenses, including education, housing, transportation, technology, health care, and more.

The press release also states that the legislation "would also increase the amount employed individuals with disabilities can contribute to these accounts and allow the tax-free rollover of funds to these accounts from 529 plans."

Online data

On April 8, Ossoff and Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) announced they introduced bipartisan legislation to empower Americans to request data brokers delete their data.

The Data Elimination and Limiting Extensive Tracking and Exchange (DELETE) Act would "create an online tool where Americans can submit a one-time data deletion request to all registered data brokers that hold their personal data," per a press release. 

The legislation would also create a 'do not track list' to keep companies from collecting users' data.

"Data brokers are buying, collecting, and reselling vast amounts of personal information about all of us without our consent," Ossoff said in a statement. "This bipartisan bill is about returning control of our personal data to us, the American people."

Family notifications

On April 9, Ossoff and Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced bipartisan legislation to help notify families of inmates in the event of a death, serious illness, or injury in a timely manner.

The Family Notification of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act would require the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to create policies and procedures for family notifications "by issuing central guidance to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)," according to a press release.

The legislation also will advise the attorney general to develop notification policies and procedures for state and local detention agencies.

"Too often, the families of those incarcerated never find out about a serious illness, a life-threatening injury, or even the death of a loved one behind bars," Ossoff said in a statement.

The press release cites Valdosta State Prison notifying a South Georgia woman of her father's death with no ability to access further information from prison officials after a returned letter was stamped, "Return to sender: inmate dead."

Child Tax Credit

On April 9, Warnock, alongside Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), introduced legislation to double the Child Tax Credit (CTC) and provide a new "Baby Bonus" of a $2,400 one-time payment for families with newborns.

According to a press release, the American Family Act would "put more money back in the pockets of working and middle-class families."

The current CTC, under law, is $2,000 per child ages 0-16. 

"If no action is taken and current provisions expire at the end of the year, that would be cut in half to $1,000 per child," the press release said. "Sen. Warnock's proposal would increase this tax cut for families in Georgia and across the country by providing a $4,320 credit for children under 6 years old, and a $3,600 credit for children 6-17, as well as providing the Baby Bonus."

"I'm proud to stand with all of my colleagues pushing for the American Family Act," Warnock said during a press conference. "This is what family values look like. Family values is not about rhetoric, it's about giving every child a chance and to ensure that a child's outcome is not based on their parent's income."

Sports facilities

On April 10, Ossoff and Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced bipartisan legislation to help build and upgrade youth sports facilities throughout Georgia.

According to a press release, the Youth Sports Facilities Act would "make youth sports facilities eligible for grants through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA), giving educational agencies, local governments, and nonprofits more funding opportunities to create and upgrade sports facilities while growing local economies at the same time."

The senators note the legislation could support student mental health and boost economic growth.

The legislation would primarily focus on rural areas and projects to help create new sports facilities in underserved communities.

"Georgia families deserve modern and safe sports facilities where their kids can play, grow, and thrive," Ossoff said in a statement. "This bipartisan bill will help Georgia communities expand youth sports facilities, strengthen local economies, and foster mental and physical health for the next generation."