The House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously passed H.R. 4462, bipartisan legislation that 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 on their 2010 tax return. The legislation, introduced by Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel and co-sponsored by 155 other members, also includes a provision allowing those who text messaged a donation the ability to use a phone bill as proof of donation.

"We all witnessed the horrendous event that took place in our hemisphere last week and have united in a bipartisan way to do what we can to ease the pain of those who are suffering in Haiti," said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY). "Working together with Ways and Means Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI), House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC), House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA), we developed this legislation to make it easier, and encourage people, to donate to the relief efforts in Haiti and I thank my colleagues for their strong support in the House today."

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.

The bill now moves to the Senate, where it must be passed before it can be signed by President Barack Obama.

BILL SPECIFICS

H.R. 4462 allows individuals making a charitable contribution after January 11th and before March 1st to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti to claim these charitable contributions on their 2009 tax returns. This includes donations made by text message.

“The road to recovery in Haiti will not be short, but the Haitian people should know that their big sister America is here to comfort them in their time of need,” said the Congressman.

Rangel stressed that without this change, taxpayers would need to wait until next year to claim a deduction for these contributions.

“This bill is a good bill, a small token to those families who have given of themselves to help others, those families whose donations have enabled charitable organizations to expedite the care and services needed for the wounded and the homeless, to help our neighbors get to safety and begin picking up the pieces and rebuilding their lives,” said Rangel.

• For a copy of the legislation, please visit http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/RANGEL_080.pdf

• For a list of the legislation’s original co-sponsors, please visit http://waysandmeans.house.gov/media/pdf/111/Cosponsors_4462.pdf

• To find out more information on relief efforts in Haiti, please visit http://rangel.house.gov/helping-haiti.html

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