The legislation would have given low-income parents larger tax refunds, especially in households with multiple children. Tax analysts said a tax filer who has two children and earned $9,000 last year would receive a child tax credit refund worth $975 under current law, but $1,950 under the proposal.

The bill’s authors, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.), said it would “help 16 million kids from low-income families and lift 500,000 out of poverty,” in part by allowing parents to claim the full tax credit for each of their kids, something they can’t do now.

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Republicans complained that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) only brought the measure up for a vote six months after it was approved by the House (by a 357-70 vote) to help bolster the campaigns of vulnerable Democratic incumbents facing tough reelection fights in November.

Some GOP senators also warned about giving Democrats a major election-year legislative victory