[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 168 (Wednesday, November 19, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2336-E2337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CHARITABLE GIVING ACT, H.R. 7

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. MARK E. SOUDER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 18, 2003

  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, why are we holding the poor hostage?
  Earlier this year, both the House and the Senate overwhelmingly 
passed legislation that would provide non-itemizers the ability to 
claim a tax deduction for charitable giving. Yet here we are nearing 
the end of this session, and have yet to see a conference committee 
take up the legislation. Instead we have seen a great deal of negative 
rhetoric designed not to help the poor of our nations, but to advance 
individual political goals.
  The money for social services needs to get into the hands of the men 
and women who are making the biggest impact on the lives of their 
communities. If we in Congress are to be good stewards of the public 
trust, we have to be certain that the money we dedicate for social 
services goes into the hands of the most effective organizations. To do 
otherwise would be a violation of the public's trust in us.
  What we are talking about with the Charitable Giving Act, however, is 
not a case where we as the Congress have to make a decision about where 
the money should go. This legislation allows individuals across the 
nation to make those decisions. Who better to identify a communities 
needs, and the organizations that are most effectively addressing those 
needs, than the men and women who live and work in that community? I 
believe that the best way we can help the faith-based and community 
organizations who need financial assistance is to encourage private 
sector philanthropy for all individuals who contribute to charitable 
organizations, not just for those who itemize their tax returns. 
Approximately two-thirds of tax returns filed do not claim itemized 
deductions; therefore those individuals are unable to deduct their 
charitable giving. The majority of non-itemizers are low- and middle-
income taxpayers These are the very taxpayers who would benefit from 
the Charitable Giving Act, and these are the very people are our best 
indicator of the effectiveness of an organization.
  This legislation also has included a $150 million authorization for 
the Compassion Capital Fund. This authorization recognizes the unique 
contributions of smaller community and faith-based service 
organizations by making it possible for these organizations to obtain a 
grant that they can use to expand their impact on their neighborhoods. 
Many of our neighborhood service organizations do not possess the 
capacity to manage a million dollar grant. This does not mean that 
these smaller organizations are not effective. On the contrary, they 
may be the best organizations in town. Through the Compassion Capital 
Fund, intermediaries are able to issue smaller grants, and provide 
technical assistance that will allow more organizations the ability to 
increase their services to the poor.
  The Charitable Giving Act contains, in large part, what I believe are 
the most significant ways the Federal Government can lend its

[[Page E2337]]

support to social service organizations across the country. The 
government can be helpful in alleviating some of the problems facing 
our communities today, but we will never have enough resources to help 
everyone. We need to team up with faith-based and community 
organizations of all types to ensure that no matter how serious a 
person's need, they will have someplace to go for help. That place 
could be the local government agency, it could be the local church, or 
a community center. Partisan debate, while very entertaining, will not 
ultimately help the poor and hurting. Passing this legislation will. We 
all need to work together for the greater good by dropping the 
rhetorical bickering and get this legislation to the President's desk.

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