Policy news from the National Council of Nonprofits

Serve America Act and the Nonprofit Capacity Building Fund advance

After the House cut $90 million of the President's Budget Request for $259 million, the Senate Appropriations Committee acted this week to maintain that request and add more to grow the number of AmeriCorps volunteers and to launch new programs. A Senate floor vote is next, but it is not expected until September after Congress returns from its August recess. Click here to learn more.

Nonprofit state associations meet with White House Office, advocate on the Hill

In an historic first, 80 nonprofit leaders from our the NCN state association network, representing more than 20,000 nonprofit members from across the country, met on July 14 with a senior White House official to explore ways government and nonprofits can best partner to serve local communities. Click here to read the press release.

Federal legislative and regulatory developments

Health care reform impasses break down as difficult negotiations continue – Nonprofits can raise their health care reform issues with their members of Congress over the August recess, because the anticipated pre-recess votes will not occur due to reform discussions slowing down on Capitol Hill.  The slow-down has come in the House in the Energy and Commerce Committee where fiscally conservative "Blue Dog" Democrats are a force, and in the Senate Finance Committee where the daily negotiations of six key Senators continues. Critical issues that dominate are how to bend the cost curve of health care in this country so that reform is fiscally meaningful, whether a public plan will be an option, and whether – and on what terms – an employer mandate to provide insurance coverage will exist. Click here to read more.

Restrictions on Legal Services Corporation possibly diminished – The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies approved the fiscal year 2010 appropriations bill covering the Legal Services Corporation on June 30. Notably, it would remove restrictions on LSC grantees' state, local and private funds. Click here to read more.

Tribal Charities Fairness Act introduced – This bill would amend Section 7871 of the Internal Revenue Code to allow Indian tribes to be treated the same as state and local governments when they provide funding to charitable nonprofits. Click here to learn more.

Discretionary appropriations for labor, health and human services and education probably increasing – Both the House and Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bills include major discretionary spending programs – in the $160 billion plus range – administered by key departments that influence the health, education and working opportunities of many nonprofit clients. Click here to learn more about the specific appropriations levels.

State policy developments

More adoptions of UPMIFA may help nonprofits in the economic downturn – Congratulations to nonprofits in Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri and Wisconsin for recently getting the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) adopted in those states. Learn more about how UPMIFA may help nonprofits.

Click here to read more about nonprofit policy developments.