[20040614]RS20948_H.R.的慈善选择条款7.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS20948Updated June 14, 2004Charitable Choice Provisions of H.R. 7name redactedDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryH.R. 7, the Community Solutions Act, on July 19, 2001, won House passage by avote of 233-198. The bill includes basic elements of President Bushs faith-basedinitiatives: tax incentives for private giving scaled back from original proposals (TitleI) and expansion of charitable choice (Title II). (Title III deals with individualdevelopment accounts.) H.R. 7 would apply to 9 new program areas “charitablechoice” rules, which forbid discrimination on grounds of religion against faith-basedorganizations as providers of specified federally funded services. It includes provisionsaimed at protecting the religious independence of faith-based organizations (forinstance, the right to hire only co-religionists and retain symbols) and protecting thereligious freedom of beneficiaries (for instance, the right to an alternate and accessibleprovider). The bill bars use of federal grant/cooperative agreement funds (but notvoucher payments) for sectarian worship. Note: Thi