March 07, 2023

Duckworth, Cassidy Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Charitable Deduction Rules for Veteran Service Organizations

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) reintroduced the VSO Equal Tax Treatment (VETT) Act to overturn a provision of the tax code that prohibits Veteran service organizations from accepting tax-deductible donations if their membership contains over 10 percent peacetime Veterans.

“Veteran service organizations provide vital support, assistance and community programming for those who served our nation,” said Senator Duckworth. “I’m proud to co-lead this legislation to reform our tax code so that it promotes, rather than discourages, involvement in these community organizations, helping ensure they can continue to be a resource for Veterans to lean on.”

“Veterans—regardless of whether they served in wartime or peacetime—should be treated equally,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Our bill fairly treats millions of military men and women who served our great nation.”

Nearly 2.5 million of the 20 million Veterans across the U.S. are peacetime Veterans. Certain congressionally-chartered Veteran service organizations are forced to deny peacetime Veterans membership to avoid dipping below the 90% threshold and losing their ability to accept tax-deductible donations. U.S. Representatives Brad Wenstrup (R-OH-02) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The VETT Act is endorsed by AMVETS, American Legion, AMSUS, Commissioned Officers Association of the USPHS, Fleet Reserve Association, Jewish War Veterans, Military Order of the World Wars, Non Commissioned Officers Association, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association and TREA: The Enlisted Association. 

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