Jefferson Reporter

U.S. Senators Katie Britt, James Lankford, and Chris Coons have introduced the Charitable Act to expand and extend the non-itemized deduction for charitable giving, which had previously expired. Senator Britt emphasized the importance of facilitating charitable donations, stating, "Families across our nation have always stepped up to support fellow Americans in need, and we should make giving easier—not harder."

The original provision was part of a legislative package signed into law by President Trump in 2020. It led to 90 million tax returns utilizing the deduction, with significant increases in donations from households earning between $30,000 and $100,000. This resulted in an additional $30 billion in contributions to charitable organizations.

Senator Lankford expressed his views on the matter: "America’s first safety net should never be the government—government is the least efficient caregiver by far. Our families, churches, and other nonprofits do incredible work to lift up those who need it most." He believes that updating tax laws to incentivize giving will empower Americans to make a more substantial impact.

Senator Coons highlighted Delawareans' history of community support and mentioned that last year Americans collectively donated $557 billion to charities and nonprofits. He stated his pride in reintroducing the Charitable Act with Senator Lankford to encourage more Americans to give.

Senator Britt had cosponsored this legislation during the 118th Congress. The bill has garnered support from various organizations such as National Council of Nonprofits, Charitable Giving Coalition, YMCA, American Heart Association, Boys and Girls Club of America, March of Dimes, Habitat for Humanity among others.