Each year, United Jewish Communities surveys the 155 Federations and our national affiliates for feedback for the upcoming year’s legislative agenda. Federation professionals fill in a short survey and the complied results are the foundation of UJC’s legislative priorities.  This is part of our strategic effort to focus UJC’s staff resources on issues impacting the mission and objectives of the local federations.  The prioritization process also ensures our direction at the federal level is aligned with our local communities.  For more information about UJC’s 2008 Legislative Priorities, which appear below, please contact Jonathan Westin, UJC’s Assistant Legislative Director at jonathan.westin@ujc.org or 202.736.5860. 

United Jewish Communities represents 155 Jewish federations and 400 independent Jewish communities across North America. UJC Washington brings the federations’ voice to Capitol Hill and the White House by advocating for life-saving and life-enhancing humanitarian assistance through more than 1,300 social service and healthcare institutions, community centers, schools and summer camps in nearly 800 locations in North America, in Israel and in 60 other countries around the world.


Protecting Medicaid and Medicare—UJC works to strengthen and protect Medicaid, which is the national safety net for our most vulnerable citizens, and Medicare, which is the national health insurance program for older Americans.  UJC advocates for improving the quality and delivery of Medicaid and Medicare services and ensuring these critical safety-net programs remain fiscally and programmatically sound. 

Securing federal funding for Jewish community programs—UJC partners with federations and beneficiary agencies to develop and advance federal support for innovative programs benefiting local communities, such as Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORCs) supportive service programs, family caregiver support initiatives, and other discrete community projects. 

Empowering older Americans to live healthier, more independent, & more engaged lives—By 2030, the number of older Americans will double to 77 million.  In the Jewish community, the trend is even more pronounced, with 20% of the population already 65 years or older. UJC works to improve the quality of life for the aging by advocating for programs, which:

Safeguarding the Jewish community from terrorism—To increase preparedness and mitigate risks to the Jewish community that have risen since 9/11, UJC protects and works to expand the Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program, and to improve the integration of nonprofits within the overall homeland security infrastructure. 

Maximizing incentives for charitable giving—UJC supports the introduction of new tax incentives for charitable giving and the extension of the IRA Charitable Rollover.  UJC opposes burdensome new tax requirements and impediments to nonprofit governance, operations and fundraising.