[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 2 (Thursday, January 6, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S39]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TAX DEDUCTING FOR TSUNAMI RELIEF

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I suggested to the chairman of the Finance 
Committee, Senator Grassley, and he agreed, that it would be 
appropriate and, in fact, it would be a good idea, to pass legislation 
today which would allow Americans to give a full deduction that is 
available under current law to the tsunami relief effort in 2004, if 
they wish. Even though we are clearly now in 2005, the idea is and the 
legislation would provide that, for Americans who want to give to the 
tsunami relief effort and take that contribution on their 2004 tax 
returns, they may do so.
  I am very encouraged the House took up that bill a few minutes ago. 
It is unclear as to when that will actually pass, but it is my 
understanding it will pass today. I have spoken to a good number of 
Senators about this legislation, and I have with me a long list of 
cosponsors of this legislation. I think it would be good for us to do 
this right away. I say quickly because the IRS has informed me that the 
sooner we pass this, the better. That is, the sooner we pass the 
legislation, the more easily they can work with American taxpayers who 
want to take this deduction--it is a cash deduction--in 2004.
  It is framed as a cash deduction because that is what the relief 
agencies want. They want cash. First, cash can be transmitted much more 
quickly than in-kind contributions, as much as food and clothes is 
important. They can transmit the cash contribution with the speed of 
light, frankly. Second, with cash it can be disbursed and sent to the 
area where it is needed the most. Maybe food is needed, maybe medical 
supplies are needed in one area more than another, maybe clothing or 
tents or whatnot is needed. With the cash available, the relief 
agencies can decide what is the best use.
  This is also the approach taken by our President when he nominated 
and encouraged former President Bush and former President Clinton to go 
nationwide to encourage Americans to contribute to the relief effort. 
They, too, suggest cash contributions are best. They are much more 
efficient. It is what makes the most sense as being the most helpful to 
the people in that part of the world who need it the most.
  I have a special feeling, almost reverence, for Southeast Asia, 
because I have traveled in that part of the world many times. The 
Southeast Asia ambassadors have been guests of mine in my home State of 
Montana just recently, this past year. I visited Southeast Asia quite 
recently. My heart, all of our hearts, clearly, go out to the victims 
and their families. Words cannot describe the extent and depth of this 
tragedy, and I am not going to make the effort to do so. But certainly 
when we see the photographs and we read the reports and hear people 
such as Secretary Colin Powell comment on what they have seen and what 
has happened or has not happened over there, it tugs very deeply at the 
hearts of all of us. That part of the world has our deepest prayers and 
our fondest hopes that we will do all we can to help out.
  That is happening. The American public, the American people are the 
most generous people in the world. I don't know what it is, there is 
something extra special about the American spirit. We dig down to help 
people who need help. We are there. I think it is probably because we 
are a society that is much more open than most others. We are also a 
country with many immigrants. We feel for the goings on in other 
countries in the world.
  We are a young country by comparison. I wouldn't say that makes us 
naive, but it certainly enables us to have much more hope about the 
future because we still are young. We are very hopeful. Many countries 
that are much older do not have quite the same hope, it seems. There is 
maybe a little cynicism--they have seen it all, or maybe not, but we 
are a country that is open and we want to help.
  Therefore, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a 
resolution which would accelerate the income benefits for charitable 
cash contributions for the relief of victims in the Indian Ocean 
tsunami. Also, I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a 
list of all the cosponsors of this Senate joint resolution. I am not 
going to read all the names. It is a long list.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                              S.J. Res.   

       Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
     United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. ACCELERATION OF INCOME TAX BENEFITS FOR CHARITABLE 
                   CASH CONTRIBUTIONS FOR RELIEF OF INDIAN OCEAN 
                   TSUNAMI VICTIMS.

       (a) In General.--A taxpayer may treat any contribution 
     described in subsection (b) made in January 2005 as if such 
     contribution was made on December 31, 2004, and not in 
     January 2005.
       (b) Contribution Described.--A contribution is described in 
     this subsection if such contribution is a cash contribution 
     made for the relief of victims in areas affected by the 
     December 26, 2004, Indian Ocean tsunami for which a 
     charitable contribution deduction is allowed under section 
     170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I want our colleagues to know that Senator 
Grassley and I were joined in the effort to provide tsunami relief 
assistance by dozens of our Colleagues. I want to acknowledge them by 
asking for unanimous consent that the text of the Senate Joint 
Resolution and the full list of cosponsors be printed in the Record.

       Senator Akaka of Hawaii, Senator Alexander of Tennessee, 
     Senator Biden of Delaware, Senator Bunning of Kentucky, 
     Senator Byrd of West Virginia, Senator Cantwell of 
     Washington, Senator Clinton of New York, Senator Corzine of 
     New Jersey, Senator Dayton of Minnesota, Senator Durbin of 
     Illinois, Senator Feingold of Wisconsin, Senator Feinstein of 
     California, Senator Hagel of Nebraska, Senator Harkin of 
     Iowa, Senator Hatch of Utah, Senator Inouye of Hawaii, 
     Senator Jeffords of Vermont, Senator Kerry of Massachusetts, 
     Senator Kohl of Wisconsin, Senator Landrieu of Louisiana.
       Senator Lautenberg of New Jersey, Senator Leahy of Vermont, 
     Senator Levin of Michigan, Senator McCain of Arizona, Senator 
     Mikulski of Maryland, Senator Murray of Washington, Senator 
     Nelson of Nebraska, Senator Nelson of Florida, Senator Obama 
     of Illinois, Senator Reid of Nevada, Senator Rockefeller of 
     West Virginia, Senator Santorum of Pennsylvania, Senator 
     Schumer of New York, Senator Smith of Oregon, Senator Wyden 
     of Oregon, Senator Stabenow of Michigan, Senator Dorgan of 
     North Dakota, Senator Dodd of Connecticut.

  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Graham of South Carolina). Without 
objection, it is so ordered.

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