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April 15 has now come and gone, known as tax day to most Americans. Millions of Americans filed their returns last month and many took into account in filing that return the dollars they contributed to charitable and worthwhile causes. According to an organization called Giving USA, Americans gave nearly $300 billion in 2011 to support important programs and services, from food pantries and medical research to youth programs and seed grants to start new businesses. Because of those generous donations of millions of Americans each year, not-for-profits have impacted the lives of countless individuals for decades.
An example back home in my State, an example of where a charitable contribution made a tremendous difference in the life of an individual is William Wilkerson, a 16-year-old from Overland Park, KS. At age three, William was diagnosed with moderate to severe bilateral hearing loss. After visiting several doctors, William was taken to Children's Mercy Hospital, where he was fitted with his first set of hearing aids. He later put into words what he experienced that day, “With so many different things that I had never heard before, it was as if somebody had turned on the world!”
Denise Miller, the manager of the Children's Mercy Hearing and Speech Clinic, said this about the importance of donations, “Because of the donor support we receive, we are able to fit the most appropriate hearing aids on each and every child, based on their own unique needs.” In 2011, the clinic fit nearly 500 patients with hearing aids bringing the world of sound to their ears and changing their lives forever.
Nonprofits like Children's Mercy Hospital depend on the generosity of Kansans and other Americans to help support their ongoing care for children. But President Obama has proposed changes to the 100-year-old tradition of providing tax incentives for charitable giving that could significantly diminish this support for nonprofits. In the President's 2014 budget is a proposal to cap the total value of tax deductions at 28 percent for higher income Americans—including the charitable tax deduction.
According to the Charitable Giving Coalition, this proposal could reduce donations to the nonprofit sector by more than $5.6 billion every year. This reduction amounts to more than the annual operating budgets of the American Red Cross, Goodwill, the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity, the Boys and Girls Clubs, Catholic Charities, and the American Cancer Society combined. A reduction in giving of this magnitude would have a devastating impact on the future of charitable organizations in our country.
Given our country's current economic situation, more Americans have turned to nonprofits for help in recent years. According to the Nonprofit Finance Fund, 85 percent of nonprofits experienced higher demand for their services in 2011 and at least 70 percent have seen increased demand since 2008.
Our country depends upon a strong philanthropic sector to provide a safety net for services, especially given the tighter local and State budgets. Americans understand the value and impact of the charitable deduction, which is why a recent United Way Worldwide survey found that two out of every three Americans are opposed to reducing the charitable tax deduction.
Nonprofits are best equipped to provide assistance on the local level and can often do so in a far more effective manner than many government programs. Studies have shown that for every $1 subject to the charitable deduction, communities will receive $3 in benefits. The Federal Government will be hard-pressed to find a more effective way to generate that kind of public impact. Congress has previously acknowledged the benefits of private investments and regularly passes charitable giving incentives in the wake of a natural disaster to encourage more giving.
Last October, when Hurricane Sandy tore across the east coast, the storm left thousands of residents without the basic necessities of life: food, water, and shelter. Within 6 weeks, the American Red Cross served more than eight million meals, provided more than 81,000 shelter stays, and distributed more than six million relief items to thousands of residents impacted by the storm.
In times of crisis, Americans depend on relief service organizations such as the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities, and the Salvation Army—all not-for-profit organizations whose main purpose is to help their fellow citizens when they need it the most. Nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity also help families make a fresh start in life after a disaster. In May of 2007, an EF5 tornado swept through my home State of Kansas devastating 95 percent of the town of Greensburg.
Diana Torres, a single mom, had lived in Greensburg for nearly seven years when the tornado destroyed the home they were renting. Diana faced the likelihood of having to move out of State. Then the Wichita Habitat for Humanity stepped in with 1,400 volunteers to build a new home. Because of special financing and donated supplies, Diana could afford to purchase the home for her family.
Executive director of the Wichita Habitat for Humanity Linda Stewart said those who support Habitat “know they are making a difference in someone's life that lasts for years. That is what not-for-profits do every day across Kansas and around our country. They make a difference one life at a time.”
Since the founding of our Nation, neighbors have been helping other neighbors. They lend that helping hand that is so often needed. The charitable deduction is one way to encourage that tradition to continue. Any change in the Tax Code related to charitable giving would have a long-lasting and negative consequence, not necessarily to the generous donor but, more importantly, to the millions of Americans who rely upon the services provided by a charitable organization. With our economy still recovering and the tremendous need for charitable causes, the President should be encouraging Americans to give more, not less, and Congress should reject this administration's proposal.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) issued the following statement today upon learning that a McConnell U.S. Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft carrying three crew members crashed in northern Kyrgyzstan. The crew members were not from McConnell AFB.
"I was saddened to hear that a McConnell KC-135 tanker crashed in Kyrgyzstan,” Sen. Moran said. “The three crew members on board were working to protect our country and keep our freedom within reach, and we should all be grateful for their service. I ask that all Kansans join me in keeping the family and friends of these crew members in their thoughts and prayers in the days ahead."
Since 1941, McConnell Air Force Base has been an instrumental part of the Wichita community. McConnell Air Force Base employs more than 17,000 people, military and civilian, and last year it had an overall impact of more than $520 million on our local economy. McConnell supports all branches of the military and allied partners, refueling off of either coast and around the world every day.
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Sen. Moran and 40 Senators Call On FAA to Preserve Contract Tower Funding
"By providing up to $253 million in funding authority, far above the amount required to prevent furloughs, Congressional intent is clear: FAA must prevent the slated closure of 149 contract towers by fully funding the contract tower program."
May 02 2013
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) led 39 of their Senate colleagues today in calling on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to immediately use the flexibility outlined in S. 853, the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013, to end the planned closure of 149 contract towers due to disproportionate sequestration cuts. The Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013, which passed Congress last week, provided funding authority to the FAA to not only end the furloughs of tens of thousands of FAA personnel, but also to keep all 149 contract towers open.
“The contract tower program is a vital public safety and economic development asset for dozens of communities – many of them rural – in every corner of the country,” the Senators wrote in a letter to Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Michael Huerta and U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “The disruption that the combined closure of 149 contract towers would have starting June 15th would certainly go against the recently enacted legislation which allows you to ‘prevent reduced operations and staffing of the FAA during FY 2013 to ensure a safe and efficient air transportation system.’”
“By providing up to $253 million in funding authority – far above the amount required to prevent furloughs – Congressional intent is clear: FAA must prevent the slated closure of 149 contract towers by fully funding the contract tower program,” the Senators concluded.
“The Contract Tower Program is one of the most efficiently-run programs in the FAA, and it should be protected,” Sen. Moran said. “Secretary LaHood has told Congress that the $253 million in additional funding flexibility provided to the FAA by the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 is enough to protect both air traffic controllers and the 149 contract control towers. This letter makes Congress’ intent unequivocally clear, and I am hopeful the FAA will soon announce that it is using the additionally flexibility given to them by Congress to stop the control tower closures. Anything short of ending the contract tower closures in addition to the furloughs would ignore the flexibility outlined in the Section 2(c) of the legislation.”
“The planned closures were unwise, unfair and unnecessary, causing harm to the residents who work at these airports and the regional economies that depend on their services. It is my strong belief -- shared by many of my colleagues in the Senate -- that legislation passed last week unequivocally provides the FAA with the funding authority needed to keep open 149 contract towers, including the six slated for closure in Connecticut. The contract tower program is vital to public safety and economic development, and I am pleased Congress has acted to avert these harmful cuts. This letter removes any uncertainty as to the intent of the legislation, and I am confident the FAA will act accordingly and preserve funding for the contract tower program,” Sen. Blumenthal said.
The Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013 was passed last week unanimously by the Senate and by a strong bipartisan majority in the House. The bill directs the FAA use its flexibility to find savings elsewhere in their budget rather than target air traffic controllers for furloughs. The bill was crafted to provide the FAA with more than enough funding flexibility to protect the 149 contract control towers slated for closure as well.
In addition to Blumenthal and Moran, the letter is signed by Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Max Baucus (D-Mont.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Robert Casey (D-Pa.), Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Tom Udall (D-N.M), David Vitter (R-La.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
A copy of the letter follows.
May 2, 2013
The Honorable Ray LaHood
Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Ave, SE
Washington, DC 20590
The Honorable Michael Huerta
Administrator
Federal Aviation Administration
U.S. Department of Transportation
800 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20591
Dear Secretary LaHood and Administrator Huerta:
As you know, Congress recently passed legislation giving the Secretary of Transportation the flexibility needed to avert air traffic controller furloughs and contract tower closures. We urge you to ensure that in addition to ending furloughs for 47,000 FAA employees, the agency also end the planned closure of 149 contract towers. This legislation gives FAA the flexibility and funding it needs to do both. Anything short of ending both the furloughs and contract tower closures would ignore the flexibility outlined in Section 2 (c). Our support of this legislation was based on the understanding that the contract towers could be fully funded.
While ending furloughs for tens of thousands of FAA personnel is a common sense decision due to the impact that flight delays had on the traveling public, we are equally concerned about the status of the contract tower program. The contract tower program is a vital public safety and economic development asset for dozens of communities – many of them rural – in every corner of the country. These municipalities depend on the contract tower program to provide commercial and general aviation services, jobs, and in many cases, support for a variety of air ambulance facilities. The disruption that the combined closure of 149 contract towers would have starting June 15th would certainly go against the recently enacted legislation, which allows the U.S. Department of Transportation to “prevent reduced operations and staffing of the FAA during FY 2013 to ensure a safe and efficient air transportation system.”
By providing up to $253 million in funding authority – far above the amount required to prevent furloughs – Congressional intent is clear: the FAA should prevent the slated closure of 149 contract towers by fully funding the contract tower program.
Sincerely,
Richard Blumenthal
Jerry Moran
Kelly Ayotte
Max Baucus
Roy Blunt
John Boozman
Richard Burr
Maria Cantwell
Robert Casey
Saxby Chambliss
Tom Coburn
Mike Crapo
Al Franken
Chuck Grassley
Kay Hagan
James Inhofe
Johnny Isakson
Tim Kaine
Mark Kirk
Amy Klobuchar
Mary Landrieu
Frank Lautenberg
Joe Manchin
Robert Menendez
Chris Murphy
Bill Nelson
Rob Portman
Mark Pryor
James Risch
Pat Roberts
Ron Johnson
Marco Rubio
Charles Schumer
Tim Scott
Jeanne Shaheen
John Thune
Pat Toomey
Tom Udall
David Vitter
Mark Warner
Roger Wicker
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Sen. Moran Statement on National Day of Prayer
May 02 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Across the country, people of all faiths observed the National Day of Prayer by praying for the well-being of the United States and those in leadership roles.
“Today, as Americans observe the National Day of Prayer, it’s a good reminder to set aside time to pray for our country and reflect on the importance of prayer,” Sen. Moran said. “Whether in times of uncertainty, grief or joy, prayer has the power to comfort, and it is encouraging to know that so many individuals are praying for their elected officials, the state of Kansas and our country.”
Congress declared the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer in 1952.
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Sen. Moran Talks FAA Cuts on FOX News
Apr 26 2013
