HCR 23 – AS INTRODUCED
2010 SESSION
05/04
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 23
A RESOLUTION calling on Congress to audit the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) funding.
SPONSORS: Rep. Ulery, Hills 27; Rep. Haefner, Hills 27; Rep. Renzullo, Hills 27; Rep. Hogan, Hills 25; Rep. Villeneuve, Hills 18
COMMITTEE: State-Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs
This resolution urges the states to defund ACORN.
10-2427
05/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Ten
A RESOLUTION calling on Congress to audit the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) funding.
Whereas, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) was founded in 1970 with the mission of increasing voter participation, delivering services to inner-city neighborhoods, community organizing, and carrying-out issue campaigns; and
Whereas, ACORN is an organization guilty of violating numerous laws and aiding and abetting criminal activity; and
Whereas, in 2003, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) found that ACORN had illegally suppressed the ability of its employees to organize a union. The NLRB said, “By interrogating employees about their union activities, by informing employees that other employees have been discharged because of the union, by threatening employees that selecting the union to represent them will be futile, and by threatening employees with discharge, respondent has violated section 8(a) of the act;” and
Whereas, ACORN workers have been convicted of voter registration crimes in the following states: Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Washington, and is under investigation in other states; and
Whereas, on November 14, 2008, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development stopped all contributions to ACORN, citing “Serious concerns about national ACORN’s financial accountability, transparency, governance and organizational integrity,” and “reports of ACORN involvement in alleged voter registration fraud and political partisanship;” and
Whereas, ACORN workers were videotaped in Baltimore, New York City, San Diego, San Bernadino, and Washington, D.C. aiding and abetting prostitution, child prostitution, human trafficking, illegal immigration, and tax fraud; and
Whereas, ACORN workers instructed individuals to falsify tax forms by listing child prostitutes as “dependents;” and
Whereas, on September 11, 2009, the United States Department of Commerce ended its partnership on the 2010 Census with ACORN, citing a lack of confidence in the organization; and
Whereas, on September 16, 2009, White House Spokesman Robert Gibbs remarked, “The conduct you see on those tapes is completely unacceptable;” and
Whereas, on September 15, 2009, the U.S. Senate voted 83-7 to prohibit federal funds from going to ACORN; and
Whereas, on September 17, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives voted 345-75 to prohibit federal funds from going to ACORN; and
Whereas, a large portion of ACORN’s funding comes from government grants; and
Whereas, since 1994 ACORN, has received more than $53 million in government grants; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
That the New Hampshire general court calls upon the United States Congress to audit all grants in order to identify funding for ACORN; and
That signed copies of this resolution be sent by the house clerk to the President of the United States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate President, and each member of the New Hampshire Congressional delegation.