December's child tax credit payment will be the last one unless Congress acts

Parents are set to get their last monthly infusion of the expanded child tax credit starting Wednesday -- unless Congress acts to extend it for another year. Eligible families have received monthly payments of up to $300 per child since July, but the beefed-up credit is only in effect for 2021.

Eligible families have received monthly payments of up to $300 per child since July as part of the Democrats' $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill, which President Joe Biden signed in March. But the beefed-up credit is only in effect for 2021.

Democratic leaders want to extend the monthly payments for certain families for another year as part of the party's $1.9 trillion spending bill. But the legislation faces opposition from West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat, who is concerned about the cost of the sweeping safety net enhancements.