FEINGOLD INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO HELP CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
ATTRACT AND RETAIN VOLUNTEERS
Volunteer Mileage Reimbursement Act Would Raise the Allowable
Reimbursement Rates for Volunteers
January 26, 2007
Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today reintroduced the
Volunteer Mileage Reimbursement Act to help charitable organizations
attract and retain volunteers by making it less costly for those who
travel while volunteering. Under current law, volunteers who use their
cars for charitable purposes may be reimbursed up to 14 cents per mile
for their donated services without triggering a tax consequence for
either the organization or the volunteers. The legislation would raise
the level of allowable mileage reimbursement for volunteers to 40.5
cents per mile, making it equal to the reimbursement rate of businesses,
and simplify the tax code both for non-profit groups and the volunteers
themselves.
"High gas prices and cost of living expenses are having an impact
on all Americans, and that’s hurting charitable organizations
that depend on volunteers for transportation," Feingold said.
"By increasing the amount of reimbursable mileage, we can make
it easier for volunteers to continue helping these organizations provide
important services to their communities without having to worry about
the impact it will have on their wallets."
Feingold originally introduced the legislation in 2002 after hearing
about the senior meals program run by the Portage County Department
on Aging at his Portage County listening session. Volunteers who had
together logged thousands of miles delivering meals said they could
no longer afford to offer their services under the old reimbursement
limit. Without volunteers, the costs of the program would greatly
increase because the services that had been provided by the volunteers
would have to be contracted out. The Department's increased costs
would come directly out of the pot of funds available to pay for meals
and other services.
“The current system doesn’t honor the important work
of our nation’s volunteers," Feingold said. "This
bill will help volunteers across Wisconsin and our nation who provide
valuable services to seniors and others in need."
In 2003, a version of the Volunteer Mileage Reimbursement Bill passed
the Senate after being incorporated into the Charitable Aid Recovery
and Empowerment (CARE) Act, but the House of Representatives failed
to pass the Feingold bill.
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