[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S2276]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 15--ENCOURAGING ALL AMERICANS TO INCREASE 
THEIR CHARITABLE GIVING, WITH THE GOAL OF INCREASING THE ANNUAL AMOUNT 
         OF CHARITABLE GIVING IN THE UNITED STATES BY 1 PERCENT

  Mr. SANTORUM submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Finance:

                            S. Con. Res. 15

       Whereas individual charitable giving rates among Americans 
     have stagnated at 1.5 to 2.2 percent of aggregate individual 
     income for the past 50 years;
       Whereas a 1 percent increase (from 2 percent to 3 percent) 
     in charitable giving will generate over $90,000,000,000 to 
     charity;
       Whereas charitable giving is a significant source of 
     funding for health, education, and welfare programs; and
       Whereas a 1 percent increase in charitable giving may 
     reduce the Federal deficit, reduce the call for tax 
     increases, and provide funds to benefit our national health, 
     education, and welfare goals: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That Congress encourages all Americans to 
     increase their charitable giving, with the goal of increasing 
     the annual amount of charitable giving in the United States 
     by 1 percent.

  Mr. SANTORUM. Mr. President, I rise today to submit a resolution that 
encourages all Americans to increase their charitable giving with the 
goal of increasing charitable giving in the United States by 1 percent.
  I am proud to be a citizen of such a charitable nation. However, 
individual charitable giving rates among Americans have stagnated over 
the past 50 years. On average, Americans donate 2 percent of their 
aggregate income to charitable causes. A 1-percent increase to 3 
percent could generate up to $90 billion annually. Further, a 1-percent 
increase in charitable giving has the potential to reduce the Federal 
deficit, reduce the call for tax increases, and provide our national 
health, education, and welfare programs with much needed assistance in 
performing their duties.
  I also realize the Government's role to make it easier for Americans 
to be charitable. As legislators, we must provide incentives for 
charitable giving, opportunities for low-income families to build 
individual assets, and support faith-based and secular organizations as 
they provide charitable social services. I remain committed to 
promoting increased opportunities for the less fortunate to obtain help 
through faith-based and community organizations.
  There are people all around the country waiting to give more to 
charity--they just need a little push. The CARE Act gives that in the 
form of a series of targeted tax incentives. The bill provides $2 
billion in food-donation incentives that would allow farmers, 
restaurants and corporations to give more of their surplus food to 
local food banks and soup kitchens. America's Second Harvest estimates 
this provision translates into an additional 878 million meals for the 
hungry over the next 10 years.
  In addition, the CARE Act removes the tax penalties that are 
preventing larger-dollar donors from rolling over their IRA account 
funds to assist a wide range of charities, including foundations, 
colleges and universities. If the CARE Act passes, individuals will be 
able to give 30 percent more in tax-free IRA contributions than would 
otherwise be possible.
  The spirit of giving is part of what makes America great. I submit 
this resolution to remind us all that more can be done to assist the 
needy. I encourage my colleagues to support this resolution.

                          ____________________