America's Charities and Non-Profits Call on Congress to Pass the C.A.R.E. Act Now.

WASHINGTON -- Twenty charitable, philanthropic and other non-profit groups joined together in Washington today for the first Congressional C.A.R.E. Day to urge Congress to pass the C.A.R.E. Act before the end of this session. The C.A.R.E. Act, S. 1780, is co-sponsored by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-CT).

"The C.A.R.E. Act is among the most pressing measures being considered by Congress right now. It provides the charitable community with much-needed support at a time when their resources are stretched to the limits by a series of devastating natural disasters," said Senator Santorum. "We must find ways to more fully reward and encourage charitable giving, and as a nation which has seen its need for charitable giving increase precipitously this year, we can hardly afford to wait."

As members from participating organizations highlighted in meetings they held with more than 40 Senate offices, it is not merely the wealthy who give to charity. Rather, Americans from across the socioeconomic spectrum support the nation's charitable causes, and it is this giving that is particularly encouraged by the C.A.R.E. Act. Research shows that low- to-moderate-income individuals give a higher percentage of their income to charity than higher income individuals, even though they are less likely to itemize and get the benefit of their giving on their tax returns.

Passage of the C.A.R.E. Act would allow 83 million low-to-moderate income Americans, who comprise two-thirds of tax filers and who give millions to charities each year, to benefit from their giving. C.A.R.E. Act provisions would enable individuals 70 1/2 years old and older to make tax-free charitable distributions from their IRA accounts, and would spur enormous growth in food donations - perhaps as much as $2 billion more - from farmers, restaurants and corporation to help those in need. The C.A.R.E. Act will also improve oversight of tax-exempt organizations by increasing transparency, accountability and credibility.

Organizations participating in Congressional Care day include: the American Association of Museums, United Way of America, American Association of Christian Schools, Independent Sector, Association of Fundraising Professionals, American Society of Appraisers, Young America's Foundation, AdvanceUSA, Association of Small Foundations, Americans for the Arts, The Heritage Foundation, National Committee on Planned Giving, Alliance for Charitable Reform, American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, Center for Lobbying in the Public Interest, National Taxpayers Union, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, Urban Family Council, Lutheran Services in America and the Appraisal Institute.