WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) is demanding additional answers from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) about its partnership with the Tides Foundation – a left-leaning organization that has funneled resources to entities responsible for inciting violent protests and the harassment of Jewish students on U.S. college campuses. In a letter to USCCF President Michael Carney, Chairman Smith questions why USCCF would partner with an organization like the Tides Foundation and accept donations facilitated by that organization when it is affiliated with the spread of antisemitism:
“Given the links the Tides Foundation has to rising antisemitism on college campuses, the Committee is concerned about why such an organization would help facilitate donations to the USCCF through its Donor Advised Funds (DAF) and why the USCCF would be willing to accept donations through that organization,” writes Ways and Means Committee Chairman Smith. “Although you acknowledged in your response that the Tides Foundation makes gifts to organizations through its DAF ‘that are not aligned with the Chamber and for activities which the Chamber would oppose,’ it calls into question whether the USCCF was previously aware of the Tides Foundation’s partners prior to accepting contributions through their DAF. It also raises questions regarding whether there is any donation the USCCF would ever decline. Surely, one can imagine a donation source so concerning that an organization would not want the affiliation and would decline the donation. Is there any donation that the USCCF would not accept?”
The letter follows a May 15, 2024 markup by the Ways and Means Committee which advanced legislation protecting election integrity and prohibiting foreign money from being funneled through tax-exempt organizations to influence U.S. politics. Additionally, on May 6, 2024, Chairman Smith sent a letter to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and USCCF questioning their affiliation with the Tides Foundation given that organization’s antagonism toward small businesses. Tomorrow, the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Oversight will hold a hearing titled Fueling Chaos: Tracing the Flow of Tax-Exempt Dollars to Antisemitism, which will focus on groups like the Tides Foundation that are helping foment chaos on our streets. This is part of an ongoing Committee investigation into whether entities organized under Section 501 of the U.S. tax code are abusing their tax-exempt status.
Read the full letter here.
READ: Chairman Smith to U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Explain Yourselves