Ron visits Portland's Community Warehouse for Charitable Giving Discussion

by Communications Office

Praising Oregon’s charities for their outstanding work during the holidays and year-round, Ron met on Saturday with several Portland-area non-profits to discuss how federal tax laws can protect and strengthen their community efforts.

Ron said during his Thanksgiving weekend meeting at Community Warehouse in Northeast Portland that the charitable tax deduction is one of America’s great policy success stories because it provides an opportunity to help so many vulnerable people.

“It’s especially important right now after a tough and contentious election that there not be any division when it comes to standing up for the lifeline services that Community Warehouse and these wonderful organizations provide,” Ron told reporters after his Nov. 26 meeting.

“There shouldn’t be any division when it comes to making sure vulnerable families can get a bed to sleep in, and pots and pans to cook with,” he said, referring to the goods provided at Community Warehouse.

As the senior Democrat on the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, Ron said it will be his job to strengthen and expand the opportunities for donors who want to help charitable organizations.

Toward those goals, he cited the CHARITY Act he is co-sponsoring to expand donation options for those who can contribute, streamline the donation laws and protect against scamsters who would cheat the tax laws.

“I want charitable organizations to know that when tax reform comes up early next year,” he said, “I am going to have your back.”