Bush urges Senate to act on faith-based plan

By The Associated Press

11.08.01

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WASHINGTON — Americans who contributed more than $1 billion to victims of the Sept. 11 attacks have left unrelated charities sorely wanting, President Bush told Senate leaders in an appeal for action on his initiative supporting religious charities.

Bush wrote Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott to urge that by year's end they give him a bill to sign that would bolster tax incentives for charitable giving and allow religious groups to provide government-funded social services.

While gifts to Sept. 11-related charities have surpassed $1 billion, Bush wrote that "donations to organizations not directly involved in disaster relief have declined dramatically. Soup kitchens are low on food. Mentoring programs for needy children are low on dollars."

He added: "America's charities have stood by America; it is now time for America to stand by her charities as they suffer from the economic consequences of Sept. 11."

The House passed a version of Bush's initiative in July, including tax breaks worth $13 billion over the next decade to encourage charitable giving by individuals and corporations.

The Senate, which is controlled by Democrats, has taken no action — partly because of Democratic concerns that some provisions could undermine existing civil rights protections.

White House officials have been working with Sens. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., and Rick Santorum, R-Pa., on compromise legislation.

Update

Compromise reached on faith-based plan
Revised legislation includes tax breaks for charitable giving, but abandons effort to open new government programs to religious groups.  02.07.02

Previous

Faith-based initiative unlikely to pass this year, senators say
Meanwhile, 44 national groups urge Bush not to push charitable-choice provision: ‘This is no time to divide us along religious lines.’  10.11.01

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