For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 8, 2001

President's Letter on "Armies of Compassion" Bill
Text of a Letter from the President to the Senate Majority Leader and the Senate Republican Leader
November 7, 2001

Dear Mr. Leader:

Since September 11, Americans have come together to help meet our national needs in this time of great crisis. They have given more than $1 billion to disaster relief efforts and many Americans have volunteered their time. Although individual generosity is evident everywhere, thousands of our Nation's charities, paradoxically, have been suffering. Donations to organizations not directly involved in disaster relief have declined dramatically. Soup kitchens are low on food. Mentoring programs for needy children are low on dollars. America's charities have stood by America -- it is now time for America to stand by her charities, as they suffer from the economic consequences of September 11.

I believe the Congress must address these issues now. We must pass and sign into law an "Armies of Compassion" bill this year that encourages and supports charitable giving, removes unneeded bar-riers to government support for community and faith-based groups, and authorizes important initiatives to help those in need. The House of Representatives has already advanced key elements of this agenda, and Senators Santorum and Lieberman have made great strides on consensus legislation. I believe the Congress needs to come together before recess to consider a bill that would: