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|---|---|
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The political landscape in Washington, DC continues to evolve daily. Chorus America needs to hear from you: How are the federal government’s actions affecting your work? All stories of specific impact are welcome. Please share your experience here. Thank you to those members who have already shared their stories with us.
Visit our Government Affairs Resource Page for more tools.
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These government affairs updates are provided for informational purposes only and are not intended as legal advice. Nonprofit arts organizations should consult with legal counsel for guidance specific to their circumstances.
Good News: Bipartisan Congressional Philanthropy Caucus Relaunches
On Tuesday, December 2, Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Danny K. Davis (D-IL) re-launched the Congressional Philanthropy Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Caucus promotes policies that strengthen America’s communities and the philanthropic and charitable sectors. Its priorities include supporting and expanding tax incentives for charitable giving, protecting the ability of foundations, individuals, and businesses to give back, and advancing public and private partnerships that empower and drive local impact. The Caucus also seeks to inform Members of Congress and their staff about the contributions, work, and role of foundations in communities across the country.
Read the full press release here.
Congress Seeks to Establish Retirement Fairness for Charities
Congress is advancing the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act, (“The Act”), in both the House and Senate. The House bill, H.R. 1013, was introduced by Representative Frank Lewis (R-OK). The Senate bill, S. 424, was introduced by Senator Katie Britt (R-AL). The Act would allow the following:
403(b) retirement plans, which are designed for certain employees of public schools, charities, and churches, would be permitted to invest in collective investment trusts, which are pooled investment assets held by a bank or trust company, and in insurance company separate accounts.
According to Independent Sector, nonprofit employees with 403(b) plans can contribute a portion of their salary on a tax-advantaged basis for retirement, similar to employees with 401(k) plans. However, current securities laws prohibit 403(b) plan sponsors from using collective investment trusts as an investment option. These bills would amend federal securities laws to allow 403(b) plan sponsors to select collective investment trusts, thereby leveling the playing field for 403(b) retirement plan participants.
The Act has strong bipartisan support in both chambers.
Chorus America, an active member of the Charitable Giving Coalition and the Relief for Charities Coalition, is proud to support coalition efforts urging Congress to enact this legislation.
AI Provision Removed from the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
A contentious artificial intelligence provision that Chorus America and many partner organizations opposed has been removed from the NDAA, which is considered must-pass legislation. The provision would have banned all states from implementing artificial intelligence regulations for a period of ten years. Members of both political parties disagreed on this proposal, with particularly strong and opposing viewpoints within the Republican Party.
Advocates for protections for artists amidst the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence welcomed the removal of this provision. If it had remained in the bill, the ban on state-level artificial intelligence regulation would have become law. However, the White House is also considering a new Executive Order stating that the artificial intelligence sector must be free to innovate without burdensome regulations.
Chorus America and our coalition partners are closely monitoring developments on this issue.
Court Orders IMLS to Reinstate Terminated Grants
On November 21, the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island issued a permanent injunction in Rhode Island v. Trump that declared the Administration’s attempts to dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services unlawful, unconstitutional, and in direct violation of Congress’s statutory directives. The injunction prevents the Administration from further implementing the Executive Order related to IMLS and vacates the actions it had taken.
As presiding Judge John J. McConnell Jr. stated:
“By now, the question presented in this case is a familiar one: may the Executive Branch undertake such actions in circumvention of the will of the Legislative Branch? In recent months, this Court, along with other courts across the country, has concluded that it may not.”
Read the full court decision here.
Learn about the Institute of Museum and Library Services here.
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Amy Fitterer is a dynamic leader in association management, government affairs, and the performing arts. She has consulted for OPERA America and Partners in Performance, supporting advocacy and strategic planning efforts. As Executive Director of Dance/USA (2011–2020), she led its transformation into a more equitable and financially strong organization, launching initiatives like Dance/USA Fellowships to Artists. Previously, she directed government affairs for OPERA America and Dance/USA, successfully advocating for arts funding and policy improvements. A former ballet dancer and pianist, Amy holds degrees from Indiana University and Columbia University. She lives in northern Virginia with her family and enjoys dance, music, and fitness.
