Rep. Matsui Supports Legislation to Encourage Americans to Continue Helping Haiti
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
House Unanimously Approves Bill to Allow Taxpayers to Claim Charitable Deduction in 2009 for Haiti Relief Efforts
Today, Congresswoman Doris O. Matsui (D-CA) joined her colleagues in the House of Representatives in unanimously passing H.R. 4462, legislation that would allow individuals who make charitable contributions to victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti to claim an itemized charitable deduction on their 2009 tax return. This legislation will allow people who made charitable donations to Haiti to deduct these amounts on their 2009 taxes instead of having to wait until next year to claim these deductions on their 2010 tax return. Congresswoman Matsui was an original cosponsor of this legislation, introduced on Tuesday.
The American people have shown the true nature of our spirit in decisively acting to give what they can afford to help Haiti recover from this horrible disaster, said Rep. Matsui. Even in increments of five or ten dollars, we have witnessed a clear demonstration of the good that we can do for one another in the face of devastation. I am pleased that H.R. 4462 has passed the House and hope for swift action being taken on it in the Senate. This measure is a small but important token of help and appreciation for those who have so generously opened their wallets for the Haitian people in their time of need.
The legislation also includes a provision allowing those who donated via text message the ability to use their phone bill as proof of donation. The bipartisan bill was introduced yesterday by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Ranking Member Dave Camp (R-MI), along with Congresswoman Matsui and more than 150 additional co-sponsors.
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.
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