Federal Policy Updates and Looking to 2025

November 22, 2024

In This Issue

• Engaging the New Congress Starts Now
• Speaking Up for Charitable Giving
• HR 9495: Nonprofits Seek Due Process
• Federal Court Blocks Overtime Expansion

Engaging the New Congress Starts Now

With election day behind us, the current U.S. Congress has a short timeframe to pass further legislation, while newly elected officials prepare to take office in January. Congress has until December 20 to approve or delay the final funding decisions for FY2024. And, any bill introduced to-date that has not passed both chambers will expire by the end of December, which means a great deal of legislation will be introduced at the top of 2025.

It is essential that advocates get a jump start on their relationship-building, so that when the time comes to ask elected officials to speak on your behalf, they will already know you and what your orchestra does in your community.

• The League has prepared a chart of all incoming and returning members of Congress.
• As soon as Congressional calendars are released for 2025, we will update our Calendar of Opportunities to help you plan out a full year of engaging with policymakers.
• The League’s policy team is here to answer questions, advise on what to bring forward with policymakers, and would love to be informed about your meetings so we can reinforce them in D.C. Coordinating our efforts will be more vital than ever.
• Orchestras can and should speak up on policy issues, and the League’s Playing Your Part Guide to Orchestra Advocacy helps to tell you how. 

Speaking Up for Charitable Giving

The League is a leading national partner in supporting policies that will encourage more charitable giving as Congress takes up comprehensive tax reform. We’ve joined more than 260 supporters in signing a letter submitted by the Charitable Giving Coalition (PDF) to the House Ways and Means Republican Tax Teams. The letter highlights the national decrease in charitable giving—particularly among middle and lower-income donors—and urges Committee support for the bipartisan Charitable Act (H.R. 3435) to restore and expand the charitable deduction for non-itemizers, and for permanent expansion of the charitable deduction in any tax reform package. Orchestra advocates will need to stay involved and speak up with their elected officials now and in the coming year.

HR 9495: Nonprofits Seek Due Process

Earlier this week in the League’s KeyNotes member newsletter, we reported on H.R. 9495, a package of anti-terrorism provisions, which the U.S. House of Representatives has now passed by a vote of 219 – 184. The Council on Foundations, Independent Sector, National Council of Nonprofits, and United Philanthropy Forum issued a joint statement of opposition to one specific provision within the bill that would remove certain due process protections for 501(c) organizations designated by the Secretary of the Treasury as “terrorist supporting organizations.” Following House action, prospects for the Senate to take up the bill before year-end are unclear. Nonprofits are leveraging this opportunity to continue to engage Congress in advance of potential consideration of similar measures in 2025. Read Independent Sector’s view on next steps.

Federal Court Blocks Overtime Expansion

On November 15, a federal district judge in Texas ruled to block implementation of the Labor Department’s overtime rule that sought to raise the minimum salary level white collar employees must be paid to remain exempt from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act. The ruling halts the higher salary level test that went into effect July 1, 2024 and also blocks the next change set for January 1, 2025, essentially returning the federal pay requirements to the 2019 level of $35,568 per year ($684 per week). The decision also invalidates the automatic increases scheduled to take effect in the future. While the U.S. Department of Labor has not yet indicated whether it will appeal the decision, the incoming Trump Administration may withdraw any appeal. The League, in partnership with the National Council of Nonprofits, continues to monitor this issue and will post any further updates on our Overtime Policy Resource Page.