Nonprofit Policy News

The National Council of Nonprofits provided the following Nonprofit Policy News for April.

President signs Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act
On April 21, President Obama signed into law the Serve America Act (PL 11-013) (HR 1388), a milestone for the national service movement and the largest expansion of civilian service since the Depression. It will dramatically expand national and community service programs and strengthen the infrastructure for volunteerism within the nonprofit community. It includes the Nonprofit Capacity Building Program championed by the National Council of Nonprofits and Senators Baucus (MT-D) and Grassley (IA-R). In his signing address, President Obama said: "We need your service, right now, at this moment in history." Read more.

Federal Legislative and Regulatory Developments
"Sense of the Senate" Expressed on Charitable Deductions
During debate on the Serve America Act, the Senate included Senator Baucus' (MT-D) "sense of the Senate" amendment expressing support for preserving the tax deductibility of charitable contributions and for "additional ways to encourage charitable giving." Learn more about the Senate action. For more information, analysis, and commentary about the controversy visit our website and read our Special Report.

With Budget Resolution, Congress Re-opens Debate on Estate Tax and Healthcare Reform Process
The House and Senate passed their differing FY 2010 budget resolutions before the April recess and are now actively in conference to reconcile the two. Read more.

Tax Certainty and Relief Act of 2009 (S 722) Introduced
It's all about "certainty in uncertain times." Elements of the proposal include: permanent protection for more than 20 million Americans from the alternative minimum tax; a measure to make permanent the 10, 25, and 28 percent individual tax rates; permanence of the income eligibility threshold for the child tax credit; and permanence of the estate tax at levels already in effect this year. Read more about the bill.

Representative McDermott (WA-D) Introduces Estate Tax Bill
The Sensible Estate Tax Act of 2009 (HR 2023) would strengthen the estate tax beyond the current 2009 levels and beyond what President Obama has proposed. Read more.
Senators Introduce Flat Rate Excise Tax for Private Foundations

Senators Schumer (NY-D), Levin (MI-D), and Stabenow (MI-D) introduced legislation (S 676) that would simplify the tax code for private foundations to increase charitable giving. The bill would remove the current two-tiered excise tax imposed on private foundations and replace it with one flat rate, which is to be set between 1 and 2 percent. Read more.

Newspaper Revitalization Act Would Allow Newspapers To Operate As Nonprofits
The Act (S 673) proposes 501(c)(3) educational newspapers and would make tax-exempt all advertising and subscription revenue, while making contributions tax deductible for qualified newspaper corporations. Read more.

Unfunded Federal Mandate on Residential Programs for Teens Passed in House
The House passed its version of the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2009 (HR 911), which now moves to the Senate for consideration. It would set minimum standards for covered nonprofit programs that include residential wilderness or outdoor experiences, expeditions or interventions; boot camp experiences; therapeutic boarding schools; or behavioral modification programs. Read more.

Census Bureau To Conduct Minority Outreach Program for 2010 Count
To ensure the most accurate census ever, the Census Bureau plans a new minority outreach effort to help target historically hard-to-reach communities for the 2010 census. Read more on our website or the full GAO report.