[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Pages 18955-18956]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]





                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 323--SUPPORTING THE DESIGNATION OF DECEMBER 1, 2015, 
 AS ``#GIVINGTUESDAY'' AND SUPPORTING STRONG INCENTIVES FOR ALL PEOPLE 
                OF THE UNITED STATES TO GIVE GENEROUSLY

  Mr. SCHUMER (for himself, Mr. Thune, Ms. Stabenow, and Mr. Roberts) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Finance:

                              S. Res. 323

       Whereas the Tuesday after Thanksgiving begins the holiday 
     giving season with a global day dedicated to charitable 
     giving, known as ``#GivingTuesday'';
       Whereas December 1, 2015, is the fourth annual 
     #GivingTuesday;
       Whereas since the inception of #GivingTuesday in 2012, 
     #GivingTuesday has become a worldwide movement that 
     celebrates the power of giving in all forms;
       Whereas in 2012, #GivingTuesday brought together more than 
     2,500 organizations in all 50 States and continues to gain 
     momentum with more than 35,000 partners in the United States 
     and around the world;
       Whereas online donations have increased 470 percent since 
     the Tuesday after Thanksgiving in 2011;
       Whereas #GivingTuesday, along with other community giving 
     days, highlights the charitable community in the United 
     States, which comprises approximately 1,500,000 nonprofit 
     organizations, philanthropic organizations, and religious 
     congregations that are dedicated to improving lives and 
     strengthening communities;
       Whereas nonprofit organizations are key partners with 
     Federal, State, and local governments in the delivery of key 
     programs and services, including--
       (1) child learning and nutrition;
       (2) emergency disaster response;
       (3) services for victims; and
       (4) job training and placement programs;
       Whereas communities are lifted up by the exposure of all 
     community members to the cultural, educational, and civic 
     opportunities provided by nonprofit organizations;
       Whereas the values of volunteerism and generosity toward 
     the common good has led to over 60 percent of people in the 
     United States, including 84 percent of millennials, making 
     financial contributions to support the work of nonprofit 
     organizations;
       Whereas virtually every person in the United States 
     benefits from the work of the charitable community, which--
       (1) employs over 13,700,000 workers, or 10 percent of the 
     workforce of the United States; and
       (2) engages an additional 63,000,000 volunteers;
       Whereas in 2014, individuals, foundations, and businesses 
     gave over $335,000,000,000 to support charitable causes and 
     it has been estimated that, with no deduction for charitable 
     gifts, annual individual giving would drop by 25 to 36 
     percent;

[[Page 18956]]

       Whereas other effective charitable giving incentives in the 
     Internal Revenue Code of 1986 relating to individual 
     retirement account contributions, food donations, and 
     conservation easement donations expired on January 1, 2015, 
     the fifth time in recent years;
       Whereas the United States is a great country with a strong 
     philanthropic tradition that should be continued and carried 
     on; and
       Whereas all political parties can agree on charitable 
     giving, which transcends differences of ideology and unites 
     people across boundaries: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that the United States needs a strong and 
     vibrant charitable and philanthropic sector to enable 
     communities to meet local needs;
       (2) supports the designation of December 1, 2015, as 
     ``#GivingTuesday''--
       (A) to encourage charitable giving;
       (B) to effect positive change; and
       (C) to promote causes dedicated to progress, prosperity, 
     and a better world; and
       (3) supports strong incentives for all people of the United 
     States to give generously to charitable organizations by--
       (A) protecting the existing charitable donation tax 
     deduction; and
       (B) continuing incentives that encourage philanthropy, 
     volunteering, and innovation.

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I am pleased to support S. Res. 323, a 
resolution I submitted today along with Senator Schumer, Senator 
Stabenow, and Senator Roberts, which expresses the sense of the Senate 
that Congress should recognize the benefits of charitable giving and 
express support for the designation of today, December 1, 2015, as 
#GivingTuesday.
  Celebrated annually since 2012 on the Tuesday after Black Friday and 
Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday kicks off the holiday giving season with a 
global day dedicated to charitable giving through a social movement 
that encourages giving in all its forms by people and communities 
across the country.
  From the first year of #GivingTuesday, when more than 2,500 
organizations from all 50 States came together to celebrate giving, to 
today, when more than 35,000 partners in the United States and around 
the world will participate, this movement has provided an annual 
opportunity for the country to come together to honor the long American 
history of giving back and working together.
  I would also like to recognize #GivingTuesday for its power to enact 
positive change and promote causes that further progress and prosperity 
for a better world, while also enabling local communities to meet 
specific needs.
  In my State of South Dakota, for example, many local organizations 
have already endorsed #GivingTuesday. Feeding South Dakota, located in 
Pierre, Rapid City, and Sioux Falls, is participating through numerous 
food programs and fundraisers with the ultimate goal of eliminating 
hunger entirely in my state. Likewise, the United Way & Volunteer 
Services of Greater Yankton is participating through a book drive that 
benefits local children as part of the Big Red Bookshelf program, and 
through financial support that will be used for the Connecting Kids 
Youth Scholarship program.
  The success of #GivingTuesday further highlights the work of the 
American charitable community, which boasts 1.5 million nonprofits, 
philanthropic organizations, and religious congregations dedicated to 
improving lives and strengthening communities. These charitable 
organizations employ 13.7 million workers, or nearly 10 percent of the 
U.S. workforce, with an additional 63 million people engaged in 
volunteer work.
  In all, more than 60 percent of Americans, including 84 percent of 
millennials, make financial contributions to support the work of 
nonprofit organizations.
  As we just gave thanks last week surrounded by friends and family, it 
is abundantly clear that we have much to be thankful for. I hope that 
my colleagues will join me to continue that spirit of giving and 
sharing, and support #GivingTuesday.

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