Congress looks at how to help nonprofits face gas prices

By Ann Beltran
NCNA Public Policy Analyst

At least eight bills are pending in Congress proposing to respond to the impact of higher gas prices on charitable volunteers serving the elderly, disabled, and needy across America. There is growing recognition of the problem by Congress, as shown by the different bills now pending.  Unfortunately, with Congress soon to take its August recess and then having a limited calendar because of the general elections, it is unclear at this time whether it will be necessary to line up behind the bill that has the best chances of getting enacted in the narrow time frame that remains. There is also uncertainty at this time about which bill that might be, given the ever-changing political winds.

On July 15, David Ross of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations, Erin Skene-Pratt of the Michigan Nonprofit Association, and Tim Delaney of NCNA participated actively in a telephone conference arranged by the Independent Sector to discuss the issue. Among others who joined the call were representatives of AARP, the American Red Cross, Catholic Charities and Meals on Wheels.  

As a result of the call, I joined IS and the other groups mentioned in a visit to Congressman John Lewis’s office Thursday. Lewis is on the House Ways and Means Committee and his bill (HR 6283) might serve as a vehicle for a committee hearing at which additional amendments could be made.

One issue that has developed is the need to speak with specificity about the negative impacts being felt in communities because of the high gas prices. If you can provide NCNA with concrete examples of nonprofits cutting services, volunteers unable to help anymore, or any other relevant negative impacts, please let us know at abeltran@ncna.org. We thank PANO for its leadership on this issue. Their website is an excellent source of information on the bills.

The National Council of Nonprofit Associations includes more than 40 state and regional nonprofit associations, including HANO, representing more than 22,000 mostly small and medium-sized nonprofits.