When Erika Kirk sat down for her first public interview since the tragic death of her husband, Charlie Kirk, she didn’t just share her grief. Still, she also reignited a national conversation about what truly makes America strong: its families.
In recent months, Erika has reflected on Charlie’s vision, recalling that “Charlie always said if he ever ran for office, his top priority would be to revive the American family.” Those words, first shared in September, have taken on new weight as the nation continues to mourn his loss and reflect on the values he championed.
At Moms for America, we’ve always believed that the strength of our country rises and falls with the strength of its families. Our moms see it every day: grocery bills climbing, childcare out of reach, and policies that make it harder, not easier, to raise children with hope and stability. The family is the bedrock of every thriving community. When it weakens, so does our nation.
That’s why Charlie Kirk’s vision, and Erika’s courage in carrying it forward, matter now more than ever. Their message resonates because it’s not political; it’s personal. Every parent who’s ever worried about paying for school supplies, every mom who’s ever worked a double shift to make ends meet, understands what’s at stake. A strong America starts with strong homes.
We are seeing what happens when that truth is ignored. More than one in four American children grows up without a father at home. The share of married two-parent families has fallen from 88 percent in 1960 to 69 percent today. Study after study shows that children raised in stable, two-parent households are more likely to graduate, avoid poverty and lead productive lives. Yet, our tax code and social policies still punish families for doing the very thing society claims to value: staying together and raising children.
Fortunately, leaders like President Trump have demonstrated that pro-family policies can also be effective and smart. The One Big Beautiful Bill expanded the Child Tax Credit and created incentives for employers to offer paid family leave; essential steps that helped working parents keep more of what they earn and spend more time with their children. Those victories should be only the beginning.
Now is the time to build on that foundation with three reforms:
—Expand the Child Tax Credit to reflect the cost of raising children today.
—Bolster work incentives in the CTC so that families who choose to work and provide for their children are rewarded, not penalized.
—End the Child and Dependent Care Credit penalty that discriminates against two-parent, single-earner households.
These aren’t partisan ideas; they’re practical, popular and profoundly pro-family. Americans across the political spectrum agree: policy should make it easier to raise children, not harder.
At Moms for America, we see firsthand how parents work to make ends meet and to raise children who are kind, capable and courageous. These aren’t abstract debates for us; they are our lives. When Washington remembers that, everyone benefits.
Parenting has always required sacrifice … of time, comfort and, often, personal ambition. Our public policy should honor those sacrifices, not penalize them. Because if we want to make America great again, we must first strengthen families.
America’s strength begins at the dinner table, not in Washington. As Erika Kirk reminded us, greatness starts where love and legacy meet: at home.