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House Approves Bipartisan Legislation Expanding Support for America’s Veterans

September 17, 2024

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Americans wishing to support a veterans services organization (VSO) would have more opportunity to do so with tax-deductible donations under legislation approved by the U.S. House of Representatives. H.R 1432, the VSO Equal Tax Treatment Act (VETT Act) introduced by Ways and Means Committee colleagues Representative Brad Wenstrup (OH-02) and Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) expands VSOs eligible for deductible charitable contributions to all such federally chartered tax-exempt organizations.

During debate on the legislation, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) highlighted how the status quo currently bars tax-deductible donations from going towards VSOs serving millions of veterans – including those from more recent conflicts:

“In short, this legislation makes it easier for those looking to support our veterans to do so through donations to the veterans service organization of their choosing. 

“Right now, certain VSOs are prohibited from accepting tax-deductible donations if over 10 percent of the members in their organization are not considered ‘wartime veterans.’ But this prohibition is outdated. As our veteran populations age, this needlessly restrictive definition excludes veteran populations who joined the service following the Vietnam War and before the Persian Gulf War. 

“An estimated 2.4 million veterans living today do not meet the definition of ‘wartime veterans’ – including some of the men and women who bravely served this country in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Click here to read Chairman Smith’s full opening statement from debate on the VETT Act in the House of Representatives.

VSO Equal Tax Treatment (VETT) Act (H.R. 1432)
This bill makes it easier to donate to veterans service organizations (VSOs) by allowing deductible charitable contributions to all federally chartered tax-exempt organizations that serve current and former members of the Armed Forces.

  • Addresses the current prohibition on VSOs accepting tax-deductible donations if over 10 percent of their membership is not considered “wartime veterans” – a situation common among VSOs supporting veterans of more recent conflicts.
    • 2.4 million veterans do not meet the definition of “wartime veterans.” 
  • H.R. 1432 was previously approved by the Ways and Means Committee by a vote of 42-0.