Letter from Rabbi Avi Schnall, Director of Agudah NJ: Dear Friends,
As the world struggles to deal with the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus and its devastating impact on the economy, lawmakers in Washington D.C. are in the midst of working on a bill that would address some of the corona related issues our nation is confronting. After talks broke down twice thus far, negotiations are fast and frenzied to get a bill passed.
There are several nonprofit concerns that are critical to us as a community. Our own community is a shining example of how nonprofits are playing a crucial role in helping others navigate these turbulent times and therefore it is imperative that we engage our Senators and insist they:
- Ensure that any measure intended to protect vulnerable industries economically harmed by the virus, includes the at-risk nonprofit sector. Thus, the $60 billion of the emergency relief through loans and loan guarantees should be directly set aside for the nonprofit sector;
- Facilitate charitable giving by increasing the “non-itemizer charitable contribution deduction.” The “Lankford Amendment,” which will provide an above-the-line deduction for charitable giving capped at 1/3 of the standard deduction and which contains no giving floor is an attractive option to accomplish this important goal; and
- Not exclude from the Small Business Interruption Loan Program all nonprofits that accept Medicaid funds. This restriction would eliminates Jewish nursing homes and Jewish family service and workforce development agencies, and group homes for adults with disabilities;
The above issues are vital to helping our communities weather the effects of the humanitarian and economic disruption that lies ahead. As we speak, Agudah leaders in Washington are in the midst of advocating that the Senate include the above provisions.
Please do your part and click here to reach out to our Senators and insist that our communities’ needs are included in any legislation that emerges at this time.