CGP is pleased to welcome Jon Abrams as the 2021 national board chair. This is Jon’s fourth year on the board. He serves as Director, Gift Planning for the Central Atlantic and Northeast Divisions of the American Red Cross. He is a current member and past president of the Planned Giving Group of New England. In a recent Q&A with CGP, he shared his perspectives and vision for the upcoming year.

What will you focus on during your year as chair?
The board will continue its focus on four important activities. 

On March 25 the Senate approved a $2 trillion aid package (HR 748) to address the economic fallout from the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic by a 96-0 vote. The bill, which is the third legislative relief package to address COVID-19, now goes to the House where Speaker Pelosi has said it will be taken up Friday “with strong bipartisan support.” President Trump has indicated he will promptly sign the measure into law when he receives it.

From completing work on pending appropriations bills to a landmark overhaul of criminal sentencing laws, the week before Christmas on Capitol Hill will go down as a hectic one, to say the least.  Lawmakers are also trying to make some headway on various tax measures and extend and/or reauthorize a number of important government programs, all against a backdrop of dwindling legislative days and the likely absences of lame-duck lawmakers not coming back next year. 

With under one month to go before a historic midterm election, Democrats could take control of the House in 2019 and may even stand an outside chance of gaining power in the Senate.  But, as Republicans in Congress prepare for this potential “blue wave” on November 6th, they have pressed ahead in September on a vast array of matters, making some significant progress on a number of issues following their annual summer break.