[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 624 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 624

  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Transparency Day, which 
    promotes the financial transparency of charitable organizations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 4, 2004

 Mrs. Myrick submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Transparency Day, which 
    promotes the financial transparency of charitable organizations.

Whereas the people of the United States are an exceedingly generous people, 
        having contributed more than $241,000,000,000 to charitable 
        organizations in 2002;
Whereas millions of people in the United States and around the world benefit 
        from the charitable contributions of the people of the United States;
Whereas the financial strength and success of charitable organizations are 
        dependent upon the confidence of the organizations' donors that their 
        contributions are used for their stated purposes and are not 
        misappropriated or misused;
Whereas Federal law requires most charitable organizations to file annual 
        financial reports;
Whereas, in order to be most effective, charitable organizations should be open 
        and transparent with their financial information and in their 
        communications with donors;
Whereas charitable organizations should make available to potential and existing 
        donors financial information and measurable results of the 
        organizations' actions;
Whereas one of the purposes of Wall Watchers, a ministry based in Matthews, 
        North Carolina, is to empower donors to make better-informed charitable 
        giving decisions;
Whereas Wall Watchers has joined with Members of Congress and leaders of 
        charitable organizations all over the United States to call upon 
        charitable organizations to be completely transparent, proactive, and 
        timely in providing financial information to potential and existing 
        donors;
Whereas other organizations, including the Better Business Bureau and the 
        Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, promote the financial 
        transparency of charitable organizations; and
Whereas Wall Watchers has designated May 15, 2004, as National Transparency Day: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Transparency 
        Day, which promotes the financial transparency of charitable 
        organizations;
            (2) recognizes that financial transparency is relevant to a 
        great number of entities in the United States, including 
        ministries, nonprofit and other organizations, corporations, 
        and schools;
            (3) pledges to make bipartisan efforts to enact laws to 
        protect donors from charitable organizations that are not 
        financially transparent; and
            (4) acknowledges that the people of the United States are 
        an exceedingly generous people and that National Transparency 
        Day will encourage even greater generosity.
                                 <all>