Contact: Roslyn Singer
Director of Communications, OU Advocacy
212-613-8227
rsinger@ou.org

February 3, 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Today, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, the nation’s largest Orthodox Jewish umbrella organization, expressed concern about two key provisions contained in President Obama’s 2016 Federal Budget proposal.

Orthodox Union Executive Director for Public Policy Nathan Diament stated:

“We are deeply concerned that President Obama has yet again proposed reducing the tax deduction for contributions to charity. The charitable tax deduction is a critical incentive for people of means to give resources to all kinds of educational, social welfare, relief and other programs. We note that the President did recognize the need to support America’s charities by incentivizing gifts to charity through an exemption from the Buffett Rule tax, requiring those with over $1 million in annual income pay a tax of 30 percent after charitable contributions, as well as providing for the full deduction for the value of charitable gifts from estate and gift taxation.

“The Orthodox Union was also disappointed that the proposed budget lacked an allocation for the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP). In light of recent events in France and around the globe, providing security for Jewish institutions is essential and the NSGP is a great tool in doing so. As the budget process continues, we will work with allies in Congress to protect and advance the interests of our synagogues, schools and other nonprofits.”