| Women’s Policy Inc.
The House approved H.R. 7, the Charitable Giving Act, on
September 17, by a vote of 408-13. H.R. 7 would provide an
estimated $12.7 billion over ten years for tax incentives
to encourage charitable giving by individuals and corporations.
The Senate approved, 95-5, its version of the bill (S. 476)
on April 9. Unlike the House bill, the Senate version would
offset $13.2 billion of the $14.6 billion estimated revenue
loss from the tax provisions.
The wide margins in both the House and Senate reflect the
fact that the controversial elements of the President’s
original faith-based initiative were not included in either
bill. When the House voted, 233-198, to approve an earlier
version of H.R. 7 in 2001, the bill was based largely on the
President’s proposal, which would have allowed religious
organizations to compete equally with other organizations
for federal funds to provide social services (see The Source,
7/20/01). During this year’s consideration, an agreement
was reached to drop the provision. Differences between the
House and Senate remain, however, including the question of
offsets and spending levels for the social services block
grant.
Rep. Nancy Johnson (R-CT) commended the chairman “for
crafting a bill that will reward average taxpayers for their
generosity and eliminate unnecessary barriers to giving. This
is a bipartisan bill that will expand our communities’
ability to help each other. However, there are some additional
provisions that I hope we will be able to work on with the
Senate,” expressing her strong support for the social
services block grant.
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) spoke in favor of the Democratic
substitute, citing its inclusion of offsets to the tax cuts
and increased spending for the social services block grant,
arguing that the substitute “is a fiscally responsible
approach for encouraging charitable giving and providing assistance
to vulnerable families during these particularly difficult
times.”
In addition to the charitable tax provisions, H.R. 7 would
authorize $150 million in FY 2004 to provide grants to support
“promising social service programs.” The bill
also would allow states to devote as much as 10% of federal
welfare funds to the social services block grant. H.R. 7 also
would provide $33 million in new funding for maternity group
homes to receive Transitional Living Project grants for homeless
youth.
During consideration of H.R. 7, the House defeated, 203-220,
the Democratic substitute offered by Rep. Ben Cardin (D-MD)
to increase funding for the social services block grant by
$1.1 billion, offset by provisions intended to end abusive
tax shelters, similar to the offsets in the Senate bill.
The House also defeated, 201-221, a Democratic motion to
recommit the bill by Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) that would provide
the child tax credit approved as part of the tax cut bill
(P.L. 108-27) to certain low-income families, as contained
in the Senate-passed version of H.R. 1308 (see <I<>,
6/6/03).
Bills Introduced
Retirement
S. 1617----Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) / Finance (09/15/03)---A
bill to provide comprehensive pension protection for women.
Please forward this news report to anyone who might be interested.
The Source on Women's Issues in Congress is published by Women's
Policy, Inc., a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization
that provides legislative analysis and information services
on congressional actions affecting women and families. Online
publication and distribution of The Source is made possible
through a grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
WPI Contact Information:
409 12th Street, SW, Suite 310
Washington, DC 20024
phone 202-554-2323
fax 202-554-2346
http://www.womenspolicy.org
09/03
|
