FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 20, 2010                                                      

CONTACT: Cullen Schwarz
Office: (202) 225-5802
                                                                        

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The House of Representatives today unanimously passed H.R. 4462, legislation that would provide more immediate and equitable tax relief for Americans making donations to Haiti relief.  The legislation, just introduced yesterday, would allow individuals who make charitable contributions to victims of the earthquake in Haiti to claim an itemized charitable deduction on their 2009 tax return instead of having to wait until next year to claim these deductions in 2010.  The legislation also allows those who make a donation via mobile phone text messages to use a phone bill as proof of donation so that they may claim their deduction. 

“There is always so much focus on that which divides us as a nation, but in times of crisis, the American people’s togetherness and generosity always shines through,” said Congressman Peters.  “I’m very happy to see that Democrats and Republicans were able to come together to support American giving to help ease the extraordinary pain of families affected by the disaster in Haiti.  Americans’ tremendous generosity has already been inspirational.  Providing accelerated tax relief to help Americans give a little more is the right thing to do.” 

In January of 2005, Congress enacted this type of relief for individuals that made charitable contributions to victims of the Indian Ocean tsunami that occurred in late December of 2004.   That bill (H.R. 241 in the 109th Congress) passed the House of Representatives without objection and subsequently passed the Senate by unanimous consent.

Click here to view text of H.R. 4462