[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 7 (Thursday, January 21, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E57]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 ACCELERATION OF INCOME TAX BENEFITS FOR CHARITABLE CASH CONTRIBUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, January 20, 2010

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong 
support of H.R. 4462, to accelerate the income tax benefits for 
charitable cash contributions for the relief of victims of the 
earthquakes in Haiti, introduced by my illustrious colleague 
Representative Charles B. Rangel, from New York. This legislation will 
allow qualifying charitable donations for the victims of the earthquake 
in Haiti that are made between January 11, 2010, and March 1, 2010, to 
be treated as if such contributions were made in 2009, rather than in 
2010. This will give Americans even more incentive to give to the 
relief efforts in Haiti.
  Madam Speaker, the world witnessed the vivid devastation of Haiti's 
strongest earthquake in more than two centuries on Tuesday, January 12, 
2010 which rocked the very core of the Caribbean. With thousands 
reported dead and thousands more estimated to be counted in that group, 
it has been the custom and the unstipulated duty of the American people 
to help our fellow world citizens in their time of desperation and 
need!
  I have the honor and privilege to represent and serve a city such as 
Houston, Texas, which has, time and time again, shown its generosity 
and caring spirits, to anyone who is in need. This is why this bill is 
very significant; notwithstanding our current economic condition, 
America is STILL doing what it does best, giving much needed aid and 
hope to whomever is in need. We are already playing a key role in both 
security and much-needed funds in Haiti. This bill will identify a 
qualified contribution as ``a cash contribution made for the relief of 
victims in areas affected by the earthquake in Haiti on January 12, 
2010'' and will give much needed tax relief to the many companies and 
private citizens who have already given millions of dollars to the 
relief efforts.
  The passage of this bill will cultivate more donations for the people 
of Haiti by ``accelerating the tax benefit for certain charitable cash 
contributions made for the victims of the earthquake.'' We are not 
reinventing the wheel; similar changes to tax law were done after the 
tsunami that struck Thailand and Indonesia in December 2004 and other 
tax considerations were put in place after Hurricane Katrina hit the 
Gulf Coast in 2005. The bill would waive the current law provision that 
limits charitable deductions to 50% of a taxpayer's income and 10% for 
Corporations.
  It is also in the United States' best interest, especially pertaining 
to foreign policy, to help, in any capacity, the relief and ultimate 
recovery of the nation of Haiti; it will also help govern the global 
message of ``goodwill'', which our President deems necessary for the 
prosperity of us all. For these reasons, I deeply support this 
legislation and implore my colleagues to join me in this endeavor.

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