[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 244 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 244

Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the generous 
                charitable donations made by Americans.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 12, 2009

Mr. Mitchell (for himself and Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the generous 
                charitable donations made by Americans.

Whereas the level of charitable giving in the United States surpassed 
        $300,000,000,000 in 2007;
Whereas philanthropic giving has accounted for roughly two percent of United 
        States Gross Domestic Product since the mid-1990s;
Whereas the percentage of Gross Domestic Product made up by charitable donations 
        in the United States more than doubles that of any other country;
Whereas the overwhelming majority of charitable contributions in the United 
        States come from individuals;
Whereas 65 percent of United States households earning $100,000 or less make 
        charitable contributions;
Whereas roughly 30 percent of United States taxpayers benefit from tax 
        deductions related to charitable giving; and
Whereas charitable giving tax deductions accounted for $46 billion in tax 
        savings in fiscal year 2008: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) commends the unparalleled rate of charitable giving in 
        the United States and supports this spirit of generosity;
            (2) commends the millions of Americans who make charitable 
        contributions;
            (3) recognizes that philanthropy provides critical support, 
        especially in times of economic distress, to organizations that 
        serve individuals and communities across the United States; and
            (4) expresses the sense that tax deductions for charitable 
        contributions should be protected.
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