IV 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 482 

Expressing the sense of the House that Congress should recognize the benefits 

of charitable giving and express support for the designation of 

#GivingTuesday. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

OCTOBER 20, 2015 

Ms. GABBARD (for herself and Mr. HURD of Texas) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of the House that Congress should 

recognize the benefits of charitable giving and express 

support for the designation of #GivingTuesday. 

Whereas the Tuesday following Thanksgiving, Black Friday, 

and Cyber Monday kicks off the holiday giving season 

with a global day dedicated to charitable giving known as 

#GivingTuesday; 

Whereas #GivingTuesday is in its fourth year and has become a worldwide movement that celebrates the power of 

giving in all its forms; 

Whereas #GivingTuesday brought together more than 2,500 

organizations in all 50 States in its first year and continues to gain momentum with more than 35,000 partners in the United States and around the world, increasVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Oct 21, 2015 Jkt 059200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR482.IH HR482

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•HRES 482 IH 

ing online donations 470 percent since the Tuesday after 

Thanksgiving in 2011 (before #GivingTuesday began); 

Whereas #GivingTuesday, along with other community giving 

days, highlights the charitable community in America 

which boasts one and a half million nonprofits, philanthropic organizations, and religious congregations 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 child learning and nutrition, emergency disaster response, victims’ services, 

and job training and placement programs; 

Whereas communities are lifted up by the exposure of all citizens to the cultural, educational, and civic opportunities 

provided by nonprofit organizations; 

Whereas United States volunteerism and generosity toward 

the common good led to over 60 percent of Americans, 

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 employs over 13,700,000 workers, or 10 percent, of the 

United States workforce, and engages an additional 

63,000,000 volunteers; 

Whereas the charitable sector plays a vital economic role contributing $887,300,000,000 to the United States economy, including providing nearly $588,000,000 in annual 

wages and benefits; 

Whereas individuals, foundations, and businesses give over 

$335,000,000,000 to support charitable causes in 2014, 

and it has been estimated that, with no deduction for 


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•HRES 482 IH 

charitable gifts, annual individual giving would drop by 

25 to 36 percent; 

Whereas other effective charitable giving incentives in the tax 

code related to individual retirement account contributions, food donations, and conservation easement donations expired on January 1, 2015, for 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 giving back is something all political parties can 

agree on, transcending any differences of ideology and 

uniting people across boundaries; Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes that the United States needs a 

3 strong and vibrant charitable and philanthropic sec4 tor to enable communities to meet local needs; 

5 (2) supports the designation of 

6 #GivingTuesday as a way to encourage charitable 

7 giving and therefore enact positive change and pro8 mote causes that further progress and prosperity for 

9 a better world; and 

10 (3) supports strong incentives for all Americans 

11 to give generously to charitable organizations by pro12 tecting the existing charitable deduction and rein13 stating incentives that encourage philanthropy, vol14 unteering, and innovation. 

Æ 


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