Leaders of National Faith-Based Social Service Organizations Back Faith-Based Legislation Up for Senate Consideration

Catholic Charities USA
Wednesday, 27 February 2002

The president of Catholic Charities USA joined four other leaders of faith-based social service organizations calling for the passage of S. 1924, the "Charity Aid, Recovery and Empowerment Act of 2002" (CARE Act). Sens. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) and Rick Santorum (R-PA) introduced the bi-partisan bill with the support of the White House. The bill currently awaits Senate consideration.

"We believe that the CARE Act will strengthen the ability of faith-based and community groups to serve low-income families, while also recognizing the responsibility of the government in helping to care for the most vulnerable in our society," the leaders wrote in a letter to Sens. Joseph Lieberman and Santorum, thanking them for their work in drafting the bill.

The letter was signed by Rev. J. Bryan Hehir, president of Catholic Charities USA; Charles W. Gould, national president of Volunteers of America, Inc.; Jill Schumann, president & CEO of Lutheran Services in America; Commissioner John A. Busby, national commander of The Salvation Army; and Stephen H. Hoffman, president & CEO of United Jewish Communities.

In the letter, the heads of the faith-based organizations praised the inclusion of several provisions that encourage private giving to charities and provide for additional government resources and equal treatment to faith- and community-based organizations that serve the poor.

Key Provisions in the CARE Act

Equal Treatment for Nongovernmental Organizations. The CARE Act includes straightforward, common sense provisions to ensure that qualified faith-based organizations can compete for federal funds without undue restrictions on their religious character.

Guaranteed Funding Social Services Block Grant. The legislation will provide additional, guaranteed funding for the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) without corresponding reductions to other critical programs that serve the poor. SSBG provides community groups and religious agencies with federal funds to assist working families, abused and abandoned children, persons with disabilities, and the frail elderly

Charitable Tax Deduction for Non-Itemizers. The bill would enable low- and moderate-income Americans to get the same tax treatment for their charitable contributions as higher-income taxpayers get when they itemize deductions.

IRA Charitable Rollover. This provision enables resources to flow to the charities that serve those at risk and in need by allowing tax-free rollovers from an individual retirement account to a charity (provided the donor has reached age 67).

Help for Smaller Faith and Community-Based Organizations. The bill will provide additional resources to assist small organizations with incorporation, grant writing, capacity building, and other matters related to obtaining federal funds.

Fr. Hehir, on behalf of Catholic Charities USA, and Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, of the Archdiocese of Washington, DC, on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, co-signed another letter this week to the senators endorsing the Senate proposal. "We see this as an important step in implementing the president's Faith-Based and Community Initiatives proposal," they wrote.

For more information, or to contact Catholic Charities USA, see their website at: www.catholiccharitiesusa.org