Fighting Hunger Incentive Act of 2014
Floor Speech
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Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, first, let me thank the gentleman from Michigan, Chairman Camp, for bringing this important set of charitable bills, the America Gives More Act, H.R. 4719, to the floor for a vote.
H.R. 3134, the Charitable Giving Extension Act, is a bill I introduced that would make a small change in the Tax Code but make a huge change in the lives of every American. This legislation would extend the yearly deadline for making charitable giving deductions from December 31 to April 15 of the following year so that all Americans can have an extra 3 1/2 months to give to charity and include those donations in that year's tax returns. No longer would Americans be forced to complete their charitable giving by New Year's Eve.
Let me tell you, this is something that goes far deeper than that, and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Schock) referenced it. According to the World Giving Index, America is the most bighearted nation in the world--in the world. All this is is an affirmation of
who we are as Americans. Believe me, my friends, this charitable virtue that we have is not a Republican issue or a Democratic issue. This is who we basically are as Americans.
We look at what happens. I want to you think about any time there is any kind of a crisis or tragedy in the world. Who is the first responder? America, always America. It is just who we are. It is the very fabric of this Nation and what has been given to us.
We have been so blessed by God. And then the question becomes: Well, I would like to give a little bit more, but I didn't know by the end of the year that I was going to have that little bit extra to work with.
I am talking about guys and gals who get up every morning, the alarm goes off, they throw their feet out over the bed, and they want to do it for one reason: to put a roof over their family, food on their table, clothes on their backs, and prepare for their future.
Then they say at the end of that day: I have a little bit left over. I want to be able to give that to a charitable organization.
Is there anyplace else in the world where we see that happen, and happen on a regular basis, day in and day out?
Now this is not just thumping, ``I am proud of America.'' This is a humble pride that says, I thank our Lord and God for putting us in the position where we can actually share that which we have.
``From everyone who has been given much, much will be required.'' I understand that, but please don't turn this into a political argument when it comes to good policy. You know in the depths of your hearts where the American people are. You know what they have done year after year, in good times and in bad times. And we turn this into political theater when we talk about policy that is good, not just for every single American, but for every person they help.
Now, please, on the floor that sometimes seems so divided and wants to pick sides on who is doing the best job, I came here for one reason, and that was to serve the people from Pennsylvania's Third District who sent me here--both Republicans and Democrats, some that vote and some that don't vote--and to serve the needs of the American people.
Have we gone so far from those goals that we decide to make everything political? It is not just enough to agree with every single thing that comes forward, but then we use the hypocrisy, ``But wait a minute. This is not paid for,'' and the idea to pay for it is taxing people more.
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Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. I would hate to be in the position where I tell every American: You know what? We know how to spend the money better than you. We will make the decisions of how it gets doled out. In your heart of hearts, when you want to give to a charitable organization, forget it. We will make that decision. Send the money to Washington, because we have done such a wonderful job with it.
No, my friends, that is not America. That is not who we are. That is not who we will ever be. That is not the fabric of this great Nation.
So I ask you to look past your political ambitions and beating each other up, and look at what is good policy for every single American. I urge the passage of this bill.
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