Washington, D.C. – Today Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack (CA-45) introduced the Charitable Aid To Community Heroes (CATCH) Act, H.R. 5930, which would help ensure that contributions collected by charitable organizations reach the families of individuals who are killed or injured while serving to protect life or property.
The CATCH Act permanently corrects a shortcoming in the tax code that previously delayed over $1 million from reaching the families of five firefighters who were killed in the Esperanza arson fire. Bono Mack, joined by U.S. Representatives Jerry Lewis (CA-41) and Ken Calvert (CA-44) and U.S. Senators Diane Feinstein (CA) and Barbara Boxer (CA), introduced a short-term solution to this specific issue, allowing the Central County United Way to distribute charitable contributions to the families of the fallen firefighters. Bono Mack´s CATCH Act would prevent this problem from happening in the future.
"The brave men and women who serve in the line of duty to keep our communities safe are most deserving of our respect and gratitude," said Bono Mack. "In response to the tragic Esperanza fire, our community demonstrated its deep capacity for generosity and care for the families of our fallen heroes. Generosity such as this should reach its intended recipients – the families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community – without being hindered by bureaucratic pitfalls."
"We have seen the devastation wrought within families who have lost loved ones through service to their communities during a crisis," said Bob Duistermars, President of the Central County United Way. "We have experienced the generosity of a community trying to say thanks for the valor of that fallen hero. We need Congresswoman Bono Mack's legislation to allow thankful communities to help heartbroken families cope with the long last effects of a heroic sacrifice. Tax law should not cause more stress in this already tragic environment."
Specifically, H.R. 5930 would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow charitable organizations to collect and disperse deductible contributions for individuals who are injured or killed in an effort to protect life or property. Eligible individuals for such contributions are federal, state or local government employees, or a member of a qualified volunteer emergency response organization, including volunteer firefighters. Bono Mack´s bill explicitly states that the entire amount contributed must be distributed to eligible individuals or their family members.
The CATCH Act permanently corrects a shortcoming in the tax code that previously delayed over $1 million from reaching the families of five firefighters who were killed in the Esperanza arson fire. Bono Mack, joined by U.S. Representatives Jerry Lewis (CA-41) and Ken Calvert (CA-44) and U.S. Senators Diane Feinstein (CA) and Barbara Boxer (CA), introduced a short-term solution to this specific issue, allowing the Central County United Way to distribute charitable contributions to the families of the fallen firefighters. Bono Mack´s CATCH Act would prevent this problem from happening in the future.
"The brave men and women who serve in the line of duty to keep our communities safe are most deserving of our respect and gratitude," said Bono Mack. "In response to the tragic Esperanza fire, our community demonstrated its deep capacity for generosity and care for the families of our fallen heroes. Generosity such as this should reach its intended recipients – the families of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in service to their community – without being hindered by bureaucratic pitfalls."
"We have seen the devastation wrought within families who have lost loved ones through service to their communities during a crisis," said Bob Duistermars, President of the Central County United Way. "We have experienced the generosity of a community trying to say thanks for the valor of that fallen hero. We need Congresswoman Bono Mack's legislation to allow thankful communities to help heartbroken families cope with the long last effects of a heroic sacrifice. Tax law should not cause more stress in this already tragic environment."
Specifically, H.R. 5930 would amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow charitable organizations to collect and disperse deductible contributions for individuals who are injured or killed in an effort to protect life or property. Eligible individuals for such contributions are federal, state or local government employees, or a member of a qualified volunteer emergency response organization, including volunteer firefighters. Bono Mack´s bill explicitly states that the entire amount contributed must be distributed to eligible individuals or their family members.
