118th Congress

The U.S. Congress convened its 118th session on January 3, 2023 and is scheduled to adjourn sine die on January 3, 2025.

U.S. House of Representatives – https://www.house.gov/

• U.S. House Leadership – https://www.house.gov/leadership
• U.S. House Committees – https://www.house.gov/committees
  • Relevant Committees/Subcommittees of Interest
    • Appropriations Committee
      • Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
      • Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee
      • State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee
    • Budget Committee
    • Education and the Workforce Committee
      • Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee
      • Workforce Protections Subcommittee
      • Health, Employment, Labor, Pensions Subcommittee
      • Civil Rights and Human Services
    • Energy and Commerce Committee
    • Homeland Security Committee
    • Small Business Committee
    • Ways and Means Committee

U.S. Senate – https://www.senate.gov/index.htm

• U.S. Senate Leadership – https://www.senate.gov/senators/leadership.htm
• U.S. Senate Committees – https://www.senate.gov/committees/index.htm
  • Relevant Committees/Subcommittees of Interest
    • Appropriations Committee
      • Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee
      • Labor, Health and Human Services, Education Subcommittee
      • State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee
    • Budget Committee
    • Energy and Natural Resources Committee
    • Environment and Public Works Committee
    • Finance Committee
    • Health, Education, Labor, Pensions (HELP) Committee
    • Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee

Key Legislation – https://www.congress.gov/

• S. 566 – Charitable Act – Restores and expands universal non-itemized charitable deduction
• S. 3572 – Creative Workforce Investment Act – Would help bring creative workers into jobs by creating a competitive workforce grants program within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The legislation would authorize the administration of grants to eligible government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations, as well as state and local workforce boards through the Department of Labor in coordination with the National Endowment for the Arts. Grantees are required to create art that is accessible to the public such as free concert series, large-scale murals, photography exhibits, published stories, or dance performances. 
• H.R. 2811 – Limit, Save, and Grow Act of 2023 – Raises the debt limit and decreases annual spending.
• H.R. 3239 – Advancing Equity Through the Arts and Humanities Act – to address systemic racism through the arts and humanities in the U.S.
• H.R. 3435 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify and extend the deduction for charitable contributions for individuals not itemizing deductions – Restores and expands universal non-itemized charitable deduction
• H.R. 6935 – Creative Workforce Investment Act – Would help bring creative workers into jobs by creating a competitive workforce grants program within the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The legislation would authorize the administration of grants to eligible government, non-profit, and for-profit organizations, as well as state and local workforce boards through the Department of Labor in coordination with the National Endowment for the Arts. Grantees are required to create art that is accessible to the public such as free concert series, large-scale murals, photography exhibits, published stories, or dance performances. 

Relevant Congressional Caucuses (as of February 2023)

• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional STEAM Caucus
• Congressional Humanities Caucus
• Recording Arts and Sciences Congressional Caucus
• Senate Cultural Caucus

Signatory Letters of Support Sent to U.S. Congress – Issues of Interest

• Support for bi-partisan House companion bill for Charitable Act (S. 566) – Charitable Giving Coalition – May 2023
• Urge Congress to pass the Nonprofit Stakeholders Engaging and Advancing Together (SEAT) Act – sent by Independent Sector – May 2023
• Oppose U.S. Department of Homeland Security proposed rule to increase visa petition fees and other policy changes – Performing Arts Visa Working Group – March 2023
• Urge Congress to pass the bi-partisan Charitable Act (S. 566) – Charitable Giving Coalition – February 2023
• Urge Congress to restore and expand universal non-itemized charitable deduction – Charitable Giving Coalition – December 2022

 Current Action Alerts

• FY2024 Appropriations for the NEA and NEH
• Reinstate and Extend Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) Program
• Urge Passage for Federal Incentives for Charitable Giving