Legislative Round-Up | July 2024
TNPA Has Been Active on the AI Front!
The Nonprofit Alliance (TNPA) has been working on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) issue. During our June 11-13 Advocacy Week, attendees participated in meetings in the offices of key players on artificial intelligence (AI) legislation, including the Senate AI Caucus co-chairs Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-NM). Senators Rounds and Heinrich are the co-chairs of the Senate AI Caucus.
Additionally, TNPA has been working closely with Senator John Thune (R-SD), the Senate Republican Whip. Senator Thune is the lead sponsor of S. 3312, the Artificial Intelligence Research, Innovation, and Accountability Act of 2023. A bipartisan group of eight Senators – four Republicans and four Democrats – have signed on to the Thune bill.
This legislation represents a balanced approach to the potential regulation of AI, including calling for the Department of Commerce to be the principal regulator of AI. The legislation also provides for a layered level of regulation depending on the level of potential risk associated with the use of AI — the greater the potential risk, the higher level of regulation. The Senate Commerce Committee is scheduled to consider S. 3312 on Wednesday, July 31. However, throughout the year several Commerce Committee markups of legislation have been cancelled at the last minute.
The Effort Continues on the Universal Charitable Deduction Legislation
In good news, nearly a quarter of the Senate – 24 of the 100 Senators – have signed on to S. 566, the legislation of Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Chris Coons (D-DE), which would provide a tax deduction for all taxpayers when making a charitable contribution, regardless of the taxpayer’s level of income. This is important with only 9% of taxpayers itemizing their taxes and thus eligible to claim a deduction when supporting charitable causes. Ninety-one percent of taxpayers receive no tax benefit when supporting charitable causes.
In recent weeks, TNPA has made a significant effort to line up cosponsors of the identical House version of the Universal Charitable Deduction legislation H.R. 3435. When we last reported on the activity in the House there were 59 House cosponsors, out of 435 House members, on the legislation. That number has now increased to 65 House members who have signed on to the legislation and we anticipate that number to continue to grow.
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.
Around Capitol Hill in 90 Seconds with Mark Micali
July 2024 | Recorded: 7.18.2024
Congressional Spotlight: Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD)
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 Mike Rounds (R-SD)
TNPA has worked closely with Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota and had the opportunity to ask the Senator a few questions, and share them here:
What was the moment you realized you were serious about getting into public service?
While in college, I had the opportunity to serve as an intern for the South Dakota Legislature. I enjoyed the politics but I especially enjoyed the policy making. The members of the legislature that I worked with were serious about making a difference and instilled those values in me. I always thought that I might be able to serve in a similar capacity especially once I had the financial means to do so.
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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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