Press Releases

Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) and Congressman Ron Kind (D-WI) reintroduced the Charitable Equity for Veterans Act.

Currently, the Internal Revenue Code is written to only allow tax-deductible donations to 501(c)(19) Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) that maintain a membership of at least 90 percent wartime veterans. This legislation would lift the wartime service requirement for congressionally-chartered VSOs to accept tax-deductible donations, thus better representing the 2.4 million veterans who honorably served outside of wartime.

 “VSOs play a critical role in assisting the large veteran population in southern and southwestern Ohio. Unfortunately, due to an outdated provision in our tax code, some VSOs are not eligible for tax-deductible donations. This bill would correct an oversight in the tax code to ensure all congressionally-chartered VSOs are eligible for tax-deductible donations,” said Congressman Brad Wenstrup.

“Our Veterans’ service organizations are an important resource for many Wisconsin Veterans, but outdated government red tape is needlessly limiting resources to many veterans’ service organizations across our state. I am proud to support this bipartisan bill, which will amend the tax code and allow for all major veterans’ service organizations – regardless of when and where their members served – to have the resources they need to assist our veterans back here in Wisconsin,” said Congressman Ron Kind.

AMVETS, the Air Force Sergeants Association, and the Korean War Veterans Association released the following statements of support:

“This legislation seeks to end archaic rules that unfairly disadvantage the nation’s largest and most historic veterans’ service organizations. Unlike a majority of the more than 1.5 million nonprofits in the United States, AMVETS and other reputable nonprofits that serve veterans are prohibited from receiving tax-deductible donations,” National First Vice Commander Jan Brown said. “There’s no justification for the existence of this taxation other than AMVETS has been helping our nation’s veterans since 1944. A lot of laws in our nation have changed in the years since, unfortunately, this rule continues to be an impediment to our mission and the veterans it benefits. Congress members Kind and Wenstrup have shown leadership in creating this bill. It’s my hope their fellow members of Congress will have the courage to join us in reforming this outdated tax rule and creating a level playing field."

The Air Force Sergeants Association offered support saying, “The current regulation requires 501(c)(19) organizations to maintain a membership of at least 90% wartime veterans to accept tax-deductible donations. The Air Force Sergeants Association prides itself in welcoming members from all eras and uniformed services – veterans, currently serving, families, and civilian supporters. The ability to accept tax-deductible donations would greatly enhance AFSA’s ability to care for its members and continue to positively serve and advocate for our military and their families.”

The Korean War Veterans Association offered support, “The Korean War Veterans Association of the United States of America highly endorses the proposed House Resolution 6661 to amend the Internal Revenue code of 1986 to provide for the deductibility of charitable contributions to certain organizations for members of the Armed Forces.

Members of the Korean War Veterans Association is calling on the United States Congress to modernize the tax code by creating a statute that would allow congressionally chartered 501 (c)(19) to be eligible to receive tax deductible charitable donations. This would positively affect a number of veterans' organizations.”

Congressman Wenstrup meets with AMVETS leaders from Ohio.