[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 539 Introduced in House (IH)]






107th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 539

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress 
 should complete action on H.R. 7, the Community Solutions Act of 2001.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 19, 2002

 Mr. Hayes (for himself, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Hastert, Mr. Shaw, Mr. Pitts, 
Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Akin, Mr. Ballenger, Mr. Barr of Georgia, Mr. Boehner, 
 Mr. Bonilla, Mrs. Bono, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Brady of Texas, Mr. Brown of 
South Carolina, Mr. Camp, Mr. Cantor, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Crenshaw, Mrs. 
 Cubin, Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Tom Davis of Virginia, Mr. DeLay, Mr. Diaz-
 Balart, Mr. Duncan, Ms. Dunn of Washington, Mr. English, Mr. Everett, 
Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Foley, Mr. Frelinghuysen, Mr. Gekas, Mr. Graves, Mr. 
Grucci, Ms. Hart, Mr. Hayworth, Mr. Hobson, Mr. Issa, Mr. Jenkins, Mr. 
   Kennedy of Minnesota, Mr. Kingston, Mr. LaTourette, Mr. Lewis of 
 Kentucky, Mr. McInnis, Mr. Dan Miller of Florida, Mr. Jeff Miller of 
Florida, Mrs. Northup, Mr. Norwood, Mr. Pence, Mr. Phelps, Ms. Pryce of 
 Ohio, Mr. Putnam, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Royce, Mr. Ryan of Wisconsin, Mr. 
   Schaffer, Mr. Schrock, Mr. Sessions, Mr. Shadegg, Mr. Shays, Mr. 
 Shimkus, Mr. Shows, Mr. Simmons, Mr. Tancredo, Mr. Tauzin, Mr. Terry, 
Mr. Thune, Mr. Upton, Mr. Vitter, Mr. Watkins of Oklahoma, Mr. Watts of 
Oklahoma, Mrs. Wilson of New Mexico, Mr. Wilson of South Carolina, and 
Mr. Wolf) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
 Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on the 
 Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
 in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the 
                jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress 
 should complete action on H.R. 7, the Community Solutions Act of 2001.

Whereas Government must ensure that members of organizations seeking to take 
        part in Government programs designed to meet basic and universal human 
        needs are not discriminated against because of their religious views;
Whereas the ``charitable choice'' principles in H.R. 7 allow for the public 
        funding of faith-based organizations that have demonstrated abilities to 
        help their neighbors in trouble while also preserving the religious 
        character of those organizations and protecting the rights of conscience 
        of program beneficiaries;
Whereas the equal access principles of charitable choice are already part of 
        four existing Federal programs that have been passed by the Congress and 
        signed into law by President Clinton, the first of which was part of the 
        1996 Welfare Reform Act, and these programs have benefited thousands of 
        persons in need, and many thousands more could benefit if the Congress 
        completes action on H.R. 7;
Whereas the Government too often excludes faith-based organizations from the 
        receipt of Government funds because they are perceived as too religious, 
        even when such organizations can help meet basic human needs most 
        effectively and in accordance with the Constitution;
Whereas charitable choice programs recognize that people in need should have the 
        benefit of the best social services available, whether the providers of 
        those services are faith-based or otherwise;
Whereas those moved to help others by the strength of faith should not face 
        added barriers to Federal social service funds, and different rules 
        should not apply to them when they seek to cooperate with the Federal 
        Government in helping others;
Whereas H.R. 7 also contains provisions authorizing the administration of a wide 
        array of Federal programs through ``indirect assistance'', which H.R. 7 
        defines as ``assistance in which an organization receiving funds . . . 
        receives such funding only as a result of the private choices of 
        individual beneficiaries''; and on June 27, 2002, the Supreme Court held 
        constitutional precisely those forms of Government assistance in which 
        aid is directed to religious organizations as a result of such ``private 
        choice'';
Whereas local communities throughout the United States have seen a dramatic 
        reduction in charitable contributions to local charities causing needs 
        of their citizens to go unmet;
Whereas requests for goods and services from charities, including food, shelter, 
        clothing, and utilities, have increased since the terrorist attacks;
Whereas more than 84,000,000 people in the United States who do not itemize 
        their deductions are discouraged from making charitable gifts because 
        they do not receive a tax incentive to make charitable contributions;
Whereas Federal taxes limit the amount of charitable donations that businesses 
        may give;
Whereas Federal taxes reduce aid from charitable foundations by imposing an 
        unnecessary excise tax on their resources;
Whereas Federal taxes discourage donations to food banks and food recovery 
        organizations;
Whereas Federal tax incentives can serve as a powerful tool to encourage 
        charitable giving by individuals and businesses;
Whereas the House of Representatives passed, on a bipartisan basis, H.R. 7, the 
        Community Solutions Act of 2001, more than 14 months ago, which includes 
        an expansion of charitable choice and faith-based programs and tax 
        incentives to encourage charitable giving;
Whereas the Senate has not passed H.R. 7, the Community Solutions Act of 2001, 
        or equivalent legislation;
Whereas the failure of the 107th Congress to pass H.R. 7, the Community 
        Solutions Act of 2001, could adversely affect charities and the amount 
        of charitable contributions at a time when the Nation needs to come 
        together as a single strong community; and
Whereas the most desperate in our society deserve the very best social services, 
        and if a faith-based organization is the best provider of such services, 
        the poor and the needy deserve no less: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the 107th Congress should complete action on and 
present to the President H.R. 7, the Community Solutions Act of 2001, 
prior to adjournment.
                                 <all>