Legislative Round-Up | April 2024
The Nonprofit Alliance Advocacy Week | June 11 – 13
Register now to join us for the first TNPA Advocacy Week! Choose from virtual and in-person options.
If you’re interested in the legislative issues facing the nonprofit sector today, this event is for you! Both experienced advocates and curious first-timers are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Attend virtual seminars with DC lobbyists, sector advocates, and Congressional staffers for perspectives from the frontlines. Then, gear up for a day of meetings on Capitol Hill. You can participate in person on the 12th or virtually on the 13th — it’s up to you! (Hill Day seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
June 11 | 1 – 5 p.m. ET | Seminars (virtual)
What are the latest need-to-knows on critical issues? What can we expect in this election year? What are the best ways to connect with policymakers in today’s divisive and complex political arena? Join us to find out all the insider intel!
June 12 | 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Capitol Hill Day Option 1 (in-person)
Followed by a VIP Networking Reception on the Hill
Hill Day volunteers will participate in a full day of meetings with Senators and their staff, sharing your frontlines perspective on legislation that impacts your organizations, your donors, and your missions. You’re then invited to join us for our exclusive volunteer and donor VIP event at a Capitol Hill venue to cap off the day.
June 13 | 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. | Capitol Hill Day Option 2 (virtual)
Join us from the comfort of your own desk to participate in a full day of meetings with members of Congress and their staff, sharing your frontlines perspective on legislation that impacts your organizations, your donors, and your missions.
Save your seat and register today! Free for TNPA members; $75 for non-members.
Draft National Privacy Legislation Being Considered
On April 9, the chairs of the principal committee in the Senate and House with privacy jurisdiction, Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), released a draft comprehensive national privacy bill, the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA).
The draft bill allows portions of the California Consumer Privacy Act and the Illinois Biometric Law to continue without federal preemption. TNPA strongly believes that a comprehensive national privacy law should include an unambiguous preemption of state privacy statutes, allowing for one uniform national standard for the responsible use of data. The draft legislation also provides for a private right of action — allowing for class-action lawsuits. Liability to a private right of action does not require the actual demonstration of harm, but could be triggered by a minor violation of the legislation. TNPA opposes a private right of action since it could result in a proliferation of class-action lawsuits, many of which would be frivolous.
Upon the announcement of the draft legislation, TNPA has been in contact with several key players in Congress on the privacy front, including Senate Republican Whip — the Senate’s #2 Republican — John Thune (R-SD), Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV), and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT). It is uncertain how quickly the legislation will move forward, particularly in the Senate, with the 60-vote cloture rule (out of 100 Senators) generally required to allow legislation to move forward to the Senate floor.
Below is a link to the draft legislation and a section-by-section discussion of the draft prepared by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Should you have any questions regarding the bill, please get in touch with TNPA’s Vice President of Government Affairs, Mark Micali, at mmicali@tnpa.org.
Click here to read the APRA discussion draft.
Click here to read the section-by-section of the discussion draft.
Progress Continues on the Universal Charitable Deduction Legislation
In the Senate, 24 of the chamber’s 100 members have signed on as cosponsors to S. 566, the Charitable Act, the bipartisan legislation of Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE), which would provide a universal charitable deduction open to all taxpayers who contribute to charities regardless of their level of income.
In the House, there is also a lot of positive momentum for the companion House version of the legislation, H.R. 3435, also entitled the Charitable Act — the language of the Senate and House bills is identical. This measure, led by Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Danny Davis (D-IL), Chris Pappas (D-NH), and Michelle Steel (R-CA), now has 59 representatives who have signed on as cosponsors.
TNPA Quoted in Politico Article Discussing New Jersey’s Daniel’s Law
Shannon McCracken, CEO of the Nonprofit Alliance, said Daniel’s Law came about “with good intent and from a tragic history.”
“But [Atlas] saw a possibility with the way the law was drafted and subsequently updated to have this sort of gotcha moment to make life more difficult for data brokers, and downstream to nonprofits who rely on data brokers for their fundraising,” she said.
Further Legislation in the States
Read more about new state laws and proposed state bills that could impact the work of the nonprofit sector by visiting TNPA’s State Legislation webpage.
USPS Rates to Increase Again on July 14
On April 9, the United States Postal Service (USPS) petitioned the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for the next installment in its two-per-year increases. Here’s what you need to brace for:
First-Class Mail, USPS Marketing Mail, Package Services, & Special Services
7.755%
Periodicals
9.754%
The percentage increases shown represent the average increase for each class of mail. Subsets of the class may be higher or lower. More details on increase variations within each class is available on the TNPA website.
Technically, USPS is seeking the approval of the PRC. As a practical matter, USPS will almost certainly get what it asks for. We expect the PRC will take some time to review the petition and then grant the request without any material change.
Thank you to Carolyn Angelini for sending us the information as soon as it became public. Carolyn is a TNPA representative on the USPS Mailers Technical Advisory Committee (MTAC) and on staff at Production Solutions (Moore), an ADRFCO Council Partner.
Congressional Spotlight: Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Each month TNPA introduces you to a member of Congress who is a leader on legislative matters important to our TNPA community, with representation from both parties.
Q&A with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto
TNPA has worked closely with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada. TNPA had the opportunity to ask the Senator a few questions, and share them here:
When was the moment you realized you were serious about getting into public service?
One of my first jobs in politics was working for Nevada Governor Bob Miller. I managed his office in Las Vegas, doing legal work and working with the state agencies. It was an incredible experience and helped me realize that I love public policy. To me, public service is all about tearing down barriers and finding solutions to really help our communities in Nevada succeed.
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Author: Mark Micali
Mark Micali is Vice President, Government Affairs for The Nonprofit Alliance and has spent his career on Capitol Hill. You can reach him at mmicali@tnpa.org.
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