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 be-
come 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 con-
tinues to gain momentum with more than 35,000 part-
ners in the United States and around the world, increas-
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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, philan-
thropic organizations, and religious congregations dedi-
cated to improving lives and strengthening communities; 
Whereas nonprofit organizations are key partners with Fed-
eral, State, and local governments in the delivery of key 
programs and services, including child learning and nu-
trition, emergency disaster response, victims’ services, 
and job training and placement programs; 
Whereas communities are lifted up by the exposure of all citi-
zens 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 con-
tributions to support the work of nonprofit organizations; 
Whereas virtually every person in the United States benefits 
from the work of the charitable community, which em-
ploys 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 con-
tributing $887,300,000,000 to the United States econ-
omy, 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 contribu-
tions, food donations, and conservation easement dona-
tions 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 car-
ried 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 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes that the United States needs a 
strong and vibrant charitable and philanthropic sec-
tor to enable communities to meet local needs; 
(2) 
supports 
the 
designation 
of 
#GivingTuesday as a way to encourage charitable 
giving and therefore enact positive change and pro-
mote causes that further progress and prosperity for 
a better world; and 
(3) supports strong incentives for all Americans 
to give generously to charitable organizations by pro-
tecting the existing charitable deduction and rein-
stating incentives that encourage philanthropy, vol-
unteering, and innovation. 
Æ 
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