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Representative Angie Craig Introduces Bipartisan Charitable Mileage Reimbursement Legislation in Order to Reduce Financial Burdens for Volunteer Drivers

July 1, 2022

Craig’s bipartisan bill would address financial pressures volunteer drivers are facing, ensuring drivers can continue to provide critical services to their communities

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Pete Stauber (R-MN) announced the introduction of the Tax Emergency Adjustment for Mileage Volunteers (TEAM Volunteers) Act, which would increase the charitable mileage reimbursement rate from $0.14 to $0.625 per mile for a 2-year period in order to address the financial burden that rising gas prices and inflationary pressures have placed on volunteer drivers. The charitable mileage reimbursement rate for volunteers at organizations like Meals on Wheels and Feeding America has remained stagnant at $0.14 per mile since 1997. Meanwhile, earlier this month, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced that the reimbursement rate for business travel had been increased to $0.625 per mile, up four cents from the beginning of the year. Craig's legislation will provide a much-needed adjustment to the charitable mileage reimbursement rate and ensure that, moving forward, the IRS is able to appropriately adjust the charitable mileage reimbursement rate to address the inflationary pressures of the moment.

"Volunteer drivers donate their time and resources to ensure that those most in need are able to receive the supplies and resources they need to survive," said Representative Craig. "But today, increasing costs and inflationary pressures have made it more difficult for them to do so. Raising this volunteer reimbursement rate will allow us to meet the unique challenges of this moment and ensure that dedicated volunteers can continue providing crucial services to our communities."

"Volunteer drivers play an integral role in our communities across our Eighth Congressional District and the entire state of Minnesota, from delivering meals to expanding access to healthcare for our seniors. Not only do these drivers help remove barriers for community members to access these critical services and necessities more easily, they also take part in life-saving actions, such as transporting donated organs to healthcare facilities," said Representative Stauber. "By increasing the mileage rate for volunteer drivers and lessening the burden for them, more people will be donating their time to help their fellow community members. Volunteering is a selfless act, and our volunteers should not be penalized for their service."

There is a great deal of precedent for increasing volunteer reimbursement rates, especially during times of crisis. Specifically, in the months following Hurricane Katrina, the IRS temporarily raised the volunteer rate significantly to compensate those helping the city of New Orleans recover and rebuild. Representative Craig's bill would raise the charitable mileage reimbursement rate from $0.14 to match the business mileage reimbursement rate of $0.625 for two years. Following those two years, the legislation would set the permanent rate for volunteer drivers at $0.24 to adjust for inflation and ensure that, moving forward, the IRS has the ability to adjust this rate accordingly.

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