Congressman Sponsors Bill To Allow 2009 Tax Deduction For Taxpayers' Haiti Relief Contributions

Press Release

Congressman Steve Cohen is cosponsoring legislation authored by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel (D-NY) and Majority Whip James E. Clyburn (D-SC) that will allow individuals who make charitable contributions to Haiti earthquake relief efforts 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. Please click here to view text of the legislation.
The legislation is expected to be debated tomorrow on the House floor.

"Throughout the Ninth District, constituents are responding with compassion and generosity to the people of Haiti who are struggling to recover from the effects of the devastating earthquake, despite the challenging economic situations that many Americans are personally experiencing," Congressman Cohen said. "This bill will provide Americans an even greater incentive to give to the Haiti relief efforts. I commend all those in the Ninth District, including school children and religious organizations that are collecting food, clothes and blankets to send to Haiti as well as those who have given cash donations, for their efforts."

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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